Independent Indian filmmaker Rima Das is set to premiere the sequel to her 2017 breakout hit “Village Rockstars” at the Busan International Film Festival. Titled “Village Rockstars 2,” the film will have its world premiere as part of the prestigious competition section where it will be eligible for the Jiseok award.
The original “Village Rockstars” told the story of a young girl named Dhunu living in a remote village in Assam, India, and her dream of starting a rock band. Through Dhunu’s perseverance in learning guitar despite obstacles, the film captured audiences around the world with its heartwarming message. It won numerous awards including Best Film at India’s National Film Awards and was selected as India’s submission for the Academy Awards.
“Village Rockstars 2” continues Dhunu’s story seven years after the first film. Now a teenager, Dhunu faces new challenges as she transitions into adulthood while still holding on to her childhood dreams. Das both wrote and directed the sequel, as she did for the original. She has said the ending scene of the first film, showing Dhunu playing guitar for the first time, inspired her to tell Dhunu’s story further.
Das strives for authenticity and films much of her work herself to maintain control over the process. This allows for spontaneity but can be difficult, as key moments are sometimes missed. While shooting this sequel, Das aimed to portray the harsh realities of growing up and how circumstances can force young people to mature quickly.
Outside of the festival, Das hopes “Village Rockstars 2” receives a theatrical release in India to reach wider audiences, as the original did. When not working on the sequel, Das is developing several other projects, including films set in both rural and urban India exploring various genres. Across her work, Das remains committed to crafting stories through her personal approach.
