The press conference for the film If Only Trees Could Talk (Sikaisal) took place in the presence of the director Dr. Bobby Sarma Baruah and others at the 28^th KIFF.

Dr. Baruah is a national and international award-winning filmmaker who is also a film researcher and screenwriter. Her work revolves around the indigenous cultures of North-East India.

The story is set in Ulukunchi of West Karbo Anglong. Sikaisal is a dream built by Maheshwar Patar who had tasted the fruits of knowledge in his native land. His journey begins as a sole primary school teacher. He sees a ray of hope when the school gets recognition from the government and he retires peacefully. His dream is shattered when he understands that education was never the priority for the people of his native land.

The film has been made in Tiwa language. It is a Tibeto-Burman language and is spoken by the Tiwa people in Assam and Meghalaya.

Speaking at the press conference the director said “When a language dies, proverbs, idioms, songs, and stories also die with it. There are many languages that are just spoken by the elders in a family or are spoken by a small community. Many languages are getting extinct in this way. My endeavor is to make people aware of these languages and save them from getting extinct”.

The director’s earlier works include Adomya (Indomitable), Sonar Baran Pakhi (The Golden Wing), Mishing (The Apparition), and Saatra-The Holy Land.

The film has also been produced by Dr. Bobby Sarma Baryah. She has also composed the music and is the screenplay writer as well.

The cinematography has been handled by Yuvraj Dhir.

The cast of the film consists of Maheswar Patar, Sadhani Amsi, and Kelmon Madar.

The film was selected under the section Competition on Indian Language Films.

Priyanka Dutta