Sayani Gupta & Director Nicholas Kharkonger On Why Issues Raised By Axone Are Still Relevant Today
Axone remains relevant till date because it is the first Indian film where a story about north-eastern migrants living in a metro, is told from their own perspective.
The
film
that
released
one
year
ago
is
still
sparking
conversations
about
racism
that
citizens
from
the
northeast
routinely
face.
As
the
Yoodlee
production
Axone
celebrates
one
year,
a
YouTuber's
racist
comments
against
a
north-eastern
MLA
have
underscored
once
again
the
importance
of
not
'othering'
our
fellow
citizens.
Axone
remains
relevant
till
date
because
it
is
the
first
Indian
film
where
a
story
about
north-eastern
migrants
living
in
a
metro,
is
told
from
their
own
perspective.
A
story,
where
they
are
full-fledged
protagonists
and
not
just
incidental
cameos.
The
film,
streaming
on
Netflix,
depicts
how
racism
against
north-eastern
communities
manifests
in
obvious
and
subtle
ways
as
their
cultural,
sartorial
and
culinary
traditions
are
judged,
mocked
and
misunderstood.
And
how
just
the
desire
to
cook
a
special
pork
dish
turns
into
a
mini
cultural
war
in
the
heart
of
Delhi.
Lead
actor
Sayani
Gupta
says,
"When
Yoodlee
Films
brought
this
script
to
me,
I
instantly
connected
with
it.
There
is
so
much
that
remains
undiscovered
and
unexplored
about
the
northeast.
I
do
believe
that
slowly
we
are
emerging
from
a
haze
of
ignorance
to
learn
more
about
a
region
that
is
a
beautiful
part
of
our
country.
Axone
is
path-breaking
because
it
has
actors
from
the
northeast
who
portray
experiences
that
are
uniquely
theirs.
The
film
has
initiated
a
conversation
about
inclusion
that
I
hope
will
lead
to
more
such
films
and
am
so
glad
Yoodlee
decided
to
throw
their
weight
behind
the
project."
Siddharth
Anand
Kumar,
Vice
President,
Films
and
Events
at
Saregama
India
Ltd
says,
"At
Yoodlee,
we
want
to
make
films
that
say
the
unsaid
and
create
a
shift
in
thought
and
feeling.
This
was
not
a
niche
project
for
us
but
a
story
that
deserved
to
go
mainstream
and
I
am
glad
that
it
did.
We
gave
this
story
the
care
and
the
platform
it
needed
to
reach
a
larger
audience
and
today,
it
is
considered
as
an
essential
film
in
Indian
cinemascope
from
a
cultural
narrative
perspective.
We
are
proud
to
be
first
movers
and
hope
to
make
space
for
many
more
trailblazing
modern
classics."
Actress
and
model
Lin
Laishram
who
plays
a
pivotal
role
in
the
film
says,
'Axone,
has
proven
that
the
north-east
doesn't
just
have
amazing
food,
sporting
stars,
scenic
beauty
or
great
music
but
also
fantastic
cinematic
and
acting
talent.
I
feel
so
proud
that
Nicholas
Kharkongor
is
now
considered
to
be
one
of
the
most
important
pan-Indian
directors."
Director
Kharkonger
says,
he
took
care
to
ensure
that
the
story
of
Axone
showed
its
protagonists
in
all
their
complexity
as
they
struggle
to
make
a
living,
seek
and
find
love,
and
fight
to
protect
themselves
and
each
other
from
the
harshness
of
a
metro
that
mostly
treats
them
as
'outsiders'.
He
says,
"Representation
is
important
and
that
is
why
I
wanted
to
tell
a
story
about
characters
that
cinema
has
largely
passed
by.
I
know
that
the
film
has
changed
perceptions
and
that
gives
me
a
lot
of
satisfaction.
I
hope
to
see
more
makers
and
actors
from
the
northeast
in
the
mainstream."