For the first time from north-east India an English short film “Last of the Tattooed Head Hunters” – a film on the Konyak Naga tribe of Nagaland has been selected for the Cannes film festival 2010. The 15-minutes film is produced by Indrajit Narayan Dev and directed by Vikeyeno Zao.The film was selected in the ‘short-film corner’ section category of the festival. As said by director Vikeyeno Zao the film is the only entry in Cannes film festival from the north east India ever."
The film is based on the head-hunting practices of the Konyak Nagas – and the ritualistic details that are connected with head-hunting. Continuing this head hunting practice till the mid-twentieth century, the Konyaks’ homes; their traditions and ancient customs are projected in the film. The principle reason for making this film is to project to the people of the world about these tattooed head-hunting Konyak tribes “before they are gone,” a publicity note said.
The Nagas are a people of the mongoloid stock inhabiting the mountainous region of North East India and comprise fourteen major tribes along with their sub-clans, each with their distinct dialects, traditions and customs. They migrated from the hilly regions of China centuries ago with individual tribes taking different routes to reach their present abodes. A past tradition of the Nagas was head-hunting. Of these, the fiercest practitioners of the macabre ritual were the Konyak Nagas, who continued the practice till the mid-twentieth century. This was a part of their survival strategy in a harsh land where they had to fight for their turf with other equally fearsome warriors clans.
Today, the Konyaks like most of the Naga tribes are Christians. With the advent of modernity into their lands the young generations have all but forgotten their past and are forward looking along with the rest of the world. However a dilemma faces these brave and hardy people today – and it is a political one. In 1972, when the international border between India and Myanmar was demarcated, the border was drawn right through their villages, and even through their homes.
No consideration was given to the rights of the Konyaks to live as one people in one country.
Today their wish to live as a homogeneous tribe faces an uncertain future. This documentary film aims to project the Konyaks in their homeland, their traditions and ancient customs and their plight today and a presentation to the world about these last tattooed Konyak Naga Tribes before they are gone forever.