Jahnu lives in a remote village by the banks of the river Brahmmaputra in Assam of rural India. The villagers mock him for the femininity that he proudly wears on his body. Jahnu dreams of getting an operation and becoming a woman. Jahnu’s sister ‘Jumu’, who has decided to never come out as a queer woman to protect her parent’s reputation in the village, worries that Jahnu might also have to live a painful life like her, although both the siblings have never spoken about their struggles aloud. Jahnu and Jumu’s elder brother ‘Baba’ is extremely unhappy about his gender nonconformist siblings who he thinks have made their family notorious in the village. Jahnu’s life takes a drastic turn when his romantic relationship with Palash catches attention of the villagers. With Palash refusing to acknowledge the relationship, Jahnu has to decide if he would continue living a life hiding himself or let himself walk forth with his truth.
Jahnu’s struggle is as general as it is unique, for, every queer person from rural Assam might feel it is their own story. His story is regular as it is outrageous that even till today, the history of thousands of Jahnu’s struggle continues to fight for this level of minimum recognition.

Credits

  • Pranjal Deka (onscreen name Prakash Deka) :Director
  • Pranjal Deka (onscreen name Prakash Deka): Writer
  • Milin Dutta: Producer
  • Benjamin Daimary: Key Cast, “Jahnu (maina)”

Specifications

  • Project Title (Original Language): Jonaki Porua
  • Film Type: Feature
  • Genres: Drama, LGBTQ
  • Runtime: 1 hour 31 minutes 56 seconds
  • Completion Date: May 10, 2019
  • Production Budget: 21,000 USD
  • Country of Origin: India
  • Country of Filming: India
  • Film Language: Other
  • Shooting Format: 2K
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.39
  • Film Color: Color
  • First-time Filmmaker: Yes
  • Student Project: No

Screenings / Awards

  • Twin Cities Film Fest 2019 Minneapolis
    United States
    October 24, 2019
    North American Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Dialogues: Calcutta International LGBT Film and Video Festival 2019 Kolkata
    India
    November 28, 2019
    Official Selection
  • Indian Film Fetsival of Ireland 2019 Dublin
    Ireland
    November 16, 2019
    Irish Premiere
    Official Selction
  • Bangalore Queer Film Festival 2020 Bangalore
    India
    February 20, 2020
    Official Selection
  • Prisma Independent Awards 2019 Rome
    Italy
    October 4, 2019
    Official Selection
  • First Time FIlmmaker Sessions: Liff Global Network 2019 London
    United Kingdom
    September 23, 2019
  • I AM Film Festival 2019 London
    United Kingdom
    October 16, 2019
    Official Selection/ Nominated for Best Director Award and Finalist for Best Film Award
  • LIFFT INDIA MAHOTSAV- World Cine Fest, Lonavla 2019 Pune, Lonavla
    India
    Finalist
  • OMOVIES Film Festival 2019 Napoli
    Italy
    December 1, 2019
    Official Selection
  • Aks International Minorities Festival Film-Art-Dialogue Karachi (Pakistan) Copenhegen(Denmark)
    Pakistan
    Pakistan and Denmark
    Official
  • Uganda Film Festival 2019
    Uganda
    African Premiere
    Official Selection and Nomination for Best International Film