The pioneer of the television industry in Assam and Northeast India, Sanjive Narain was conferred with the best film award on environment conservation for his intriguing film ‘Water Burial’ at the 67th National Film Awards, which took place on Monday in New Delhi.

The film is produced by Sanjive Narain, chief managing director of Prag News and co-produced by Faruque Iftikar.

The film has been inspired by the Assamese novel ‘Saba Kota Manu’ written by Yeshe Dorjee Thongchi.

‘Water Burial’ shows the rituals of the Monpa tribe and other tribal groups of the Northeast and brings the attention of the mainstream media.

Receiving the award from M. Venkaiah Naidu, Vice President of India, Sanjive said, “Expressing immense happiness and gratitude on receiving the Best Film Award on Environmental Conservation at the 67th National Film Awards 2021 held today in New Delhi. I am honoured on receiving the award by the Vice President of India, Mr M. Venkaiah Naidu.”

“I proudly dedicate this award to people of North East India and especially Arunachal Pradesh for being the inspiration behind the film ‘Water Burial’,” Sanjive added.

Earlier, Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had congratulated producer Sanjive Narain as ‘Water Burial’ received the National Film Award ‘Swarna Kamal’ – best film on Environment Conservation in feature film category in India. The announcement was made on the occasion of World Environment Day on June 5.

‘Water Burial’ explores the interconnectedness between ecocultural knowledge and subsistence livelihoods of Monpa tribal communities in the West Kameng and Tawang districts of Arunachal Pradesh, India.

Sanjive Narain has so far produced 35 feature films in different languages and won several national awards.