The Last Generation, an Assamese documentary film, has been selected for the Jharkhand International Film Festival and Awards, which will be held in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh.
Directed by Prabal Khaund and produced by Gopal Jalan and Dhruvajyoti Kakoti under the banner of Jalan Films, The Last Generation explores the traditional Yaping Hulo and Tipe practices of the Apatani community in Arunachal Pradesh, which are now on the verge of extinction. The documentary focuses on how only a few elderly women continue to adorn these practices today. Once they pass away, these traditions will be lost forever, forming the film’s core theme and hence the title, The Last Generation.
Director Prabak Khaund says- ‘As the director of this documentary project, my mission is to capture the essence of the endangered tradition of Yapping hullo and Tippe practised by the Apatani people of Arunachal Pradesh’s Ziro Valley. It is a race against time to preserve this fading cultural heritage before it becomes obscurity. Through storytelling and visual documentation, I aim to showcase the significance of these rituals and the profound impact their extinction would have on the Apatani community. The few remaining elderly women who still know Yapping Hullo and Tippe are the last threads connecting us to this ancient tradition. By immersing viewers in their stories and experiences, I hope to raise awareness about the importance of cultural preservation. This documentary is a tribute to the resilience and beauty of the Apatani culture.’
Notably, this festival, organised by the Arunachal Pradesh Tourism Department, will be held in September in Itanagar. The documentary has already been selected for various festivals, such as the Durgapur International Film Festival, Nawada International Film Festival, International Film Festival of Shimla, Pune Short Film Festival, and Kerala’s International Documentary and Short Film Festival.
Prabal Khaund and Meenakshi Deka wrote the screenplay for The Last Generation. The film was shot in and around Ziro, where the Apatani community resides.
Prabal Khaund is the vice president of Chalachitram.