The Head Hunter

Starring: Nokshaa Saham, Mrigendra Konwar, Pramod.
Directed by Nilanjan Datta
Rating: ***

In the first few minutes of The Head Hunter, the song Country Roads plays out as a beautiful mountain road reveals itself, and a lone tribal is seen going about his daily chores amidst the breathtaking forestscape  of the Nameri National Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh. What follows is a compassionate look at the impact of our choices on som­ebody else’s world. The story revolves around Apu (Nokshaa Saham), a tribal from the feared Wancho tribe that was once known for head- hunting and can­­nibalism, who guards the forest fiercely against others, especially those who want to build a road through it, feeds elephants, takes care of a pet rabbit called Land, and prays to pebbles. A tribal boy, working for the government (Mrigendra Kon­war), is given the responsibility of luring Apu out of the jungle, which he does. It is Apu’s first brush with cigarettes, money and cars. The road comes up swiftly after Apu’s house is razed. When he is dro­pped back to his jungle, his life is changed forever. The scene of the inauguration of the road and the closing scene hits you like a head-hunter’s axe would. Nokshaa lives his role as the prelapsarian Apu; Mri­­ge­­ndra essays his, requiring a movement from being a sympathiser to a betrayer, with subtlety. Nilanjan Datta, who teaches at FTII, has plans to make more films about the region.