Rima Das is an Indian filmmaker, screenwriter, producer, editor and cinematographer based in Assam. She is widely recognised for her self-taught, one-woman approach to filmmaking, in which she handles writing, direction, cinematography, production and editing herself. Her films are predominantly shot in Assamese in rural locations of Assam and have received significant recognition at major international film festivals.
| Name | Rima Das |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Filmmaker, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer, editor |
| Origin | Chhaygaon, Assam, India |
| Language of work | Assamese |
| Production company | Flying River Films |
| Notable film | Village Rockstars (2017) |
| Major recognition | National Film Award for Best Feature Film (2018) |
Rima Das hails from Chhaygaon, a small town in the Kamrup district of Assam. She completed her early education in Assam before moving to Pune for higher studies, where she developed an interest in cinema and acting. She later relocated to Mumbai to pursue acting, but eventually shifted her focus to filmmaking. Without any formal training in cinema, she taught herself the craft through self-study, observation, and experimentation, often returning to her native village for the production of her films.
Das directed her debut feature Man with the Binoculars: Antardrishti (2016), an Assamese-language film that screened at festivals including the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. The film established her interest in rural settings, non-professional actors and a meditative cinematic style.
Village Rockstars (2017) brought Das international acclaim. Shot over an extended period in her village with a cast of local children and non-professional actors, the film follows Dhunu, a young girl in rural Assam who dreams of forming a rock band. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2017 and travelled to numerous festivals worldwide.
At the 65th National Film Awards, Village Rockstars won the Best Feature Film, along with awards for Best Audiography (Location Sound Recordist), Best Editing and Best Child Artist. The film was selected as India's official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 91st Academy Awards.
Das followed up with Bulbul Can Sing (2018), a coming-of-age drama set again in rural Assam, dealing with adolescence, gender and societal pressures. The film premiered in the Generation 14plus section of the Berlin International Film Festival in 2019, where it received a Special Mention.
Das continued her practice with Tora's Husband (2022), set during the COVID-19 pandemic in a small Assamese town, exploring the strain on a businessman and his family. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Das is known for a self-reliant production model in which she serves in nearly every key technical and creative role. She typically casts non-professional actors, frequently her own family members and neighbours, and shoots over long periods in natural locations using available light. Her films emphasise observational realism, rural Assamese life, childhood and adolescence, and the textures of everyday existence. She runs her own banner, Flying River Films, under which her productions are made.
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Man with the Binoculars: Antardrishti | Director, writer, producer |
| 2017 | Village Rockstars | Director, writer, producer, cinematographer, editor |
| 2018 | Bulbul Can Sing | Director, writer, producer, cinematographer, editor |
| 2022 | Tora's Husband | Director, writer, producer, cinematographer, editor |
Rima Das is regarded as one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary Indian independent cinema. Her work has drawn attention to Assamese-language filmmaking on the global stage and demonstrated the viability of a low-budget, auteur-driven, self-shot production model rooted in regional and rural India. She has been credited with reinvigorating critical and festival interest in Assamese cinema in the late 2010s and early 2020s.