Rupam Sarmah, who hails from Jorhat and is presently based in the United States of America, has won the ‘Best Film for Inspiration Making a Global Impact – Founders Award’ for his film One Little Finger, at the Riverside International Film Festival held at Los Angeles recently.
His brother Nayan Jyoti Sarmah, an office-bearer of Assam Table Tennis Association and an SBI official, informed that Rupam, who has directed and written One Little Finger, had dared to make a movie with 80 persons with disabilities and is now receiving international acclaim.
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“The film has been officially selected to be screened in various international festivals including France, New York, San Diego, Florida, Los Angeles, New Delhi and other places and will be premiered at Marché du Film Festival de Cannes in France on May 16 and 17 next,” he further informed.
The film will be officially released in the United States on August 16 next and India release is in September. The YouTube play link for the trailer is: https://youtu.be/xtMceQBQBow
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One Little Finger is a Hollywood feature film (English) co-produced in India with the theme of ‘Ability in Disability’.
Speaking to Northeast Now, Rupam said, “The goal of the film is to bring awareness vis-à-vis the human rights of the disabled and is based on real-life stories.”
“Using the film media as a platform, we are allowing differently-abled people to act in this flick alongside other local and international award-winning actors to promote inclusion and diversity. More than 80 children and young adults with disabilities have acted in this film. The film has been completed after five years of planning and shooting in various locations in India and USA,” Rupam stated.
Some of the shooting locales in India are Jorhat, Sivasagar, Guwahati, Hajo, Rang Ghar, Naamghar, Kamakhya temple, Kolkata and its surrounding areas.
The children of Prerona Disability Organisation (Jorhat) and Monovikas Kendra (Kolkata) have been actively involved with this film.
The cast and crew are from Assam, Kolkata, South India, Mumbai, and USA. The role of the disabled is being played by characters who are physically challenged in real life too.
Tamela D’Amico, a Hollywood star, is playing the lead character in the film. Oscar nominated actor and composer, Siedah Garrett, is playing the role of Dr Claudia. Abhinaya, a hearing-impaired girl, is a South Indian actor who is playing the same role in the film.
Den, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and rare genetic disorder, is also playing the same role in the film. Jeeja, a national award winner, who has cerebral palsy, is playing a similar role in the film.
Some of the noted actors from Assam are – National Award-winning actor Moloya Goswami, Jaya Seal Ghosh, Pabitra Rabha, and Surajit Sarmah.
The music has been lent by Rupam Sarmah. “The music therapy is an integral part of this film. Many Grammy and Oscar winning artistes are involved with the soundtracks including Quincy Jones, Julian Lennon, Siedah Garrett, Kechi Okwuchi, Kevin Mackie, Padmashri Sumitra Guha, and Vishwa Mohan Bhatt.
The background score has been composed by Pulitzer nominated Stephen Melillo and Rupam Sarmah.