National Film Award for First Santhali Short Film 'Angen'

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For the first time in the history of Indian cinema, a film made in the Santhali language named **Angen** won a prestigious **National Film Award**.
The government announced this honor at the **72nd National Film Awards**, where director **Ravi Raj Murmu** won the prize for **Best Debut Film of a Director in the Non-Feature Category**.

**Angen** is a Santhali short film with a running time of **12 minutes and 10 seconds**. It is based on an ancient tribal folktale passed down through generations in **Jharkhand**.
This historic achievement marks the first time a Santhali film has received national recognition, highlighting tribal storytelling on a bigger platform.

The 34-year-old filmmaker **Ravi Raj Murmu** wrote and directed this short film. He graduated from the **Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune** and belongs to **Jaduguda** in the **East Singhbhum** district of **Jharkhand**.

The story revolves around a young shepherd boy whose beautiful flute music attracts a celestial goddess.
Enchanted by his tune, the goddess uses her magical powers to transport him to her heavenly abode.
When the boy longs for his homeland and returns to Earth, he discovers to his horror that his entire village has completely disappeared.

The movie uses this traditional folktale as a metaphor for modern social changes, particularly the migration of rural youth to big cities for work.
It shows how chasing urban development blindly can make young people lose touch with their native language, cultural roots, and traditional identity.

The film has a concise runtime of **12 minutes and 10 seconds** and was created with support from students at **Karim City College, Jamshedpur**.
Local actors **Ramchandra Mardi**, **Saloni**, **Jeetray Hansda**, and **Phoolmani** starred in the film. The soundtrack includes traditional Santhali folk songs written by **Durgaprasad Murmu** and composed by **Nunaram** and **Nishant Ram Teke**.
The core message of the film emphasizes that people can adapt to modern life while still staying deeply connected to their ancestral language and heritage.

Winning this award brings national attention to Santhali cinema and encourages filmmakers to produce more movies in regional tribal languages.
It also aids in preserving ancient Santhali folklore and cultural traditions by presenting them through modern cinematic art.