RONGPHAMU

by Anusha Thulung Rai

About the film:

MA graduate film • UK • 22:22 • English, Nepali & Thulung

Within the United Kingdom, the Indigenous Rai community wholeheartedly commits to reviving, paying tribute to, and preserving their heritage. Annually, the diasporic community comes together to celebrate their traditional festival, Sakela. In the lead-up to this celebration, Rongphamu captures the preparations for the event in Ashford, Kent. Incorporating Eurocentric archival materials and ethnographic recordings, the film reinterprets the lives of contemporary Indigenous Rai individuals, challenging historical colonial perspectives.

About the filmmaker:

Anusha Thulung Rai (she/her) holds an MA in Visual Anthropology from Goldsmiths, University of London, and is currently a Visual Artist based in London. Her primary mediums are film and photography, and her work is centred around the exploration of indigenous media. Engaging in various forms of expression, including research, filmmaking, and photography, she strives to foster cultural connections and shed light on the unique experiences of the Nepalese indigenous diaspora in the United Kingdom.

Instagram: @anusharaini