Tripura’s Kokborok feature film ‘Khaani’ set to be released on Oct 30

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Khaani, a Kokborok-language feature film, will be releasing in cinema halls across Tripura on October 30, 2026, marking the return of Kokborok cinema to the big screen after a decade. The film will be releasing at SSR Rupasi Agartala, SSR Khumulwng, and SSR Khowai.

The film, directed by Ploto Debbarma, has been screened at prestigious film festivals such as the 31st Kolkata International Film Festival 2026 and the 1st International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir 2026.

Presented by the Tripura-based production house 18 Hills Films, Khaani stars veteran actor Ruhi Debbarma, alongside Madhusudan Debbarma, Pohar Jamatia, Ajoy Tripura, and Hemchandra Tripura. The film has been shot and edited by Adwaita Chakma, and produced by Kishan Debbarma, Payal Debbarma, Partha Debbarma, and Aditya Modak. 

The film’s original music was composed by Halog Jamatia, and features tracks performed by the legendary Chongpreng-artist Sadagar Debbarma and local bands Waara and Koktun. Speaking about the film, director Ploto Debbarma acknowledged the film’s release as a historic moment marking the return of Kokborok cinema to the movie theatres after over a decade. Co-producer Aditya Modak has called Khaani’s festival screenings and upcoming release “a major milestone for Tripura’s film culture in general and Kokborok cinema in particular.”

Khaani the debut feature film of writer and director Ploto Debbarma, and he is dedicated to taking Tripura’s stories to international audiences. It took Ploto around six months to finalise the screenplay. Prior to this, he had made several award-winning short films. 

For this feature debut, he wanted to make a film that would showcase a side of Tripura that is deeply relatable and culturally accessible to the people of the state but has remained largely underrepresented in the region’s audiovisual media. Keeping the budget constraints in mind, Ploto made sure the story could be produced on a modest budget without compromising with his creative vision.

Principal photography began on 18th May 2024 in Gandatwisa, mostly in and around Karbook and Dumboor. The final cut was ready on August 15, 2025. Khaani had its world premiere at the 31st Kolkata International Film Festival 2025 at the Unheard India: Rare Language Films section. It was screened twice at the festival, at Prachi Cinema and Rabindra Okakura Bhavan.

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