Sikkimese filmmaker Tribeny Rai’s debut feature, Shape of Momos, was screened under the Indian Panorama section at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) on Thursday. Following the screening, Rai, along with producer and co-writer Kislay and lead actor Gaumaya Gurung, interacted with the media about the film and the challenges of making cinema from a region with limited resources.
Rai, a graduate of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), said the film grew out of her long-standing interest in portraying women’s lives against the cultural and geographical backdrop of the Eastern Himalayas. She described the filmmaking process as demanding, noting that the lack of technical facilities in Sikkim means that even basic equipment often has to be sourced from cities such as Kolkata, Kathmandu or Guwahati. Despite these constraints, the film has already travelled to several international festivals, including Busan, which she described as a “fulfilling” experience.
Explaining the title, Rai said momos are part of daily life in Sikkim, appearing at both celebrations and moments of grief, and that the film uses this familiarity to explore ordinary Sikkimese experiences.
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Producer Kislay said the film’s authenticity comes from Rai’s personal connection to the material. He noted that stories from Sikkim rarely reach mainstream Indian screens and are often overshadowed by stereotypes. Being selected for IFFI, he said, felt significant for the entire team.
Actor Gaumaya Gurung, who works primarily in Nepali-language cinema, said she was drawn to the project because it centres a woman’s perspective — something she finds uncommon in her industry. She praised the film’s approach in portraying the emotional world of its protagonist.
The team acknowledged that distribution remains a challenge for independent films from the Northeast. Shape of Momos is expected to release in Sikkim, North Bengal, pockets of Meghalaya and Assam, and Dehradun, along with a scheduled theatrical run in Italy. Rai said that filmmakers in Sikkim could benefit from building stronger networks to navigate distribution and visibility.
Rai, who identifies as the first woman filmmaker from Sikkim, said that while filmmaking continues to be difficult due to limited infrastructure, interest among young Sikkimese film students has been growing. She added that portrayals of the Northeast in mainstream cinema often rely on exotic imagery or drug-related narratives, and that Shape of Momos aims instead to place everyday Sikkimese people at the centre of their own stories.
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