Rima Das’s sequel, “Village Rockstars 2,” brings back the green fields, golden hour light and a young girl’s musical ambitions that defined her 2017 debut. The film premiered at the 29th Busan International Film Festival in October 2024 but did not reach a limited theatrical release until March 6, 2025, after a series of delays. Das cites the accidental death of Assamese singer Zubeen Garg in September 2024 as a major factor, noting that the grief in Assam disrupted the film’s distribution plans.
After returning from the world premiere of her new film, “Not a Hero,” at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival, Das chose to release “Village Rockstars 2” in Assam first. She later admitted that a broader release would have been preferable, saying she was too tired to push the film to other cities and that she plans to release future projects pan‑India.
The experience taught Das the importance of marketing and timing for independent cinema. She explained that the long monsoon season in Assam narrows the release window, and without a viral hook or controversy, securing a theatrical slot becomes difficult. Das highlighted the need for a strong team and a marketing budget to find the right moment to release an independent film.
Artistically, Das remains focused on rural Assam’s everyday moments, using sharper edits and a different pace in the sequel compared to the original’s long, nature‑oriented scenes. She edits ruthlessly, removing scenes that do not serve the film’s intent, even if they required extensive shooting. While she does not target a specific audience, her stories of children and young adults have resonated universally.
Das praised recent Northeast successes, such as “Boong” and “Angh,” and called for state support to nurture regional stories. She urged filmmakers, audiences, and authorities to collaborate in building a sustainable platform for independent movies, emphasizing that creating good films is a shared responsibility. The film is now running in select cities.
