Jamshedpur Filmmaker Ravi Raj Murmu Bags National Film Award for Best Debut Director

When Ravi Raj Murmu walked out of the ceremony on Sunday, his smile was the kind that only comes after a dream finally lands on reality. The 34‑year‑old Jamshedpur native has just become the second tribal filmmaker from Jharkhand to clutch the coveted 72nd National Film Award for Best Debut Director.

His winning work? A modest 12‑minute short called Angen (which translates to “Invisible”). It’s a simple tale, but it carries the weight of Santhali folklore that Murmu grew up hearing around village fires. The story follows a shepherd boy whose flute summons seven invisible deities—spiritual forces that whisk him away to a heavenly realm, only for him to struggle to find his way back.

“I am very happy. It’s a dream of every filmmaker to have national recognition,” Murmu said, his voice a mix of excitement and disbelief, during a phone interview from Mumbai. “I never expected ‘Angen’ to win anything. It started as a playful project with my students at Karim City College in 2024. We went out to the nearby nature trails, shot on a shoestring, and just… let the story breathe.”

Murmu, who holds a mass‑communication degree from Karim City College and later honed his editing chops at FTII Pune, sees the award as a launchpad. “It’s hard to get producers or funding for films in Santhali or any tribal language,” he admitted. “‘Angen’ is really a condensed version of a larger feature I’m writing, which will need at least ₹10‑15 crore. I want to weave together Santhali, Ho, Mundari and other tribal tongues into one cinematic tapestry.”

His ambition is not just personal; it’s cultural. “The deities in the story are a metaphor for development,” he explained. “We chase it blindly and may end up at a point of no return. The film leaves that open for the audience to interpret.”

The achievement drew heartfelt congratulations from Jharkhand’s Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who praised Murmu for “showcasing the richness of Santhali language, culture, and storytelling on the national stage.” Soren added that such recognition highlights the growing creative pulse of Jharkhand and will inspire a new generation of indigenous artists.

Beyond ‘Angen’, Murmu’s resume already includes the short ‘Sundi’ (2026) and the quirky drama ‘Burbokor Khel’ (2022). Yet, winning the National Film Award feels like a watershed moment—a validation that tribal stories, told in their own languages, can hold their own on India’s biggest cinematic platform.

For now, Murmu says he’s back in Jamshedpur, sketching storyboards with his students, hoping the next chapter will bring even more of Jharkhand’s hidden narratives into the light.