Bendang Walling in his character as Sub-Inspector Isaac
Vishü Rita Krocha
Kohima | February 5
“Growing up with a single mother and few things I possess in life, although not the violent aspect of it, I felt like I could relate to Reuben Thom in so many ways and the way I fit into the character, I won’t say it was easy to wear the jacket of Reuben but it made me ponder on my own life. I grew up with my mom, and I have no grudges against my father. I had good people surrounding me and had a good childhood but the lack of a person in your life can also affect you.”
These are thoughts put across by LC Sekhose, who made his debut in acting with the Amazon Prime Video crime thriller series Paatal Lok Season 2 that quite literally put Nagaland in the map of Indian cinema featuring hundreds of actors from Nagaland, for whom, the series also opened a whole new world of experience.
LC Sekhose who played an integral part in the series as the impulsive Reuben, the estranged son of Jonathan Thom always dreamt of being in the film industry but never expected an opportunity like this to come his way, fulfilling his “childhood fantasy” as he calls it. Filming his role took about 15 days travelling across Jakhama, Kohima, Dimapur, Kalimpong and Darjeeling giving him an experience that is completely new, very professional and high end.
‘The story is about Nagaland, for Nagaland’
Stating that “whatever we did, we did not just for ourselves but for our people,” he further expressed that, “I am grateful for this opportunity and we, Nagas should grab hold of it and make sure that this is a stepping stone for our people, and a source of income, inspiration and recognition.
“I feel like we should be celebrating the success of Paatal Lok season 2 and embrace this as a gift of the Nagas, and for the Nagas,” he put across even while asserting that, “the story is about Nagaland, for Nagaland.”
Articulating that acting is a very interesting profession, he also professed that, the purpose I have for music is the same for acting and any other thing that I do in life.” If given the right time, right project and right people, he added that he would like to continue acting in the near future with the ultimate goal to purpose his passion and purpose in life.
LC Sekhose is a popular rapper, who has been doing music since 2009 and is also part of an event management team. He is currently working on a few music that he is hoping to drop soon.
‘We should be building entertainment industry to spark more entrepreneurial activities’
Stating that her take-away from her debut in acting the role of Asenla Thom in Paatal Lok Season 2 is that there is no dearth of talent in the state, Rozelle Mero, an interior designer by profession and Managing Director of The People Channel underscored that, “we should be building the entertainment industry, so that many more entrepreneurial activities can take off.”
With at least 20 businesses in her mind at the mention of the film industry, she said, “from what I have seen, from script writing to designing, stories to directing, setting the stage to lighting, and acting, etc., there’s room for many other businesses.” “We must nurture the talent that our young people have,” she emphasized even while articulating that “our government needs to wake up.”
In just two weeks, she highlighted that a huge number of revenue was generated for our people while citing hiring of cars, catering, lighting, generator, hotels, etc. Her experience with acting also made her think about the possibilities out there and how more young people should be doing it.
Reiterating that there are endless possibilities, she said, “people could always be telling their stories through their acting.” However pointing out that one of the comments that emerged from the production was how expensive everything is in Nagaland except for hiring of people, she exuded hope that the state government will look into the matter and start giving incentives to production houses with low budget for filming in Nagaland, which is something that other state governments also do, which would eventually lead to opening of many more new businesses for our people.
All in all, she expressed, “I really, truly enjoyed learning and I appreciate them (makers of the series) for being sensitive, and open to suggestions.” Specifically citing the workshop held prior to the shoot, she said, “it was the best thing ever. They made us rethink, made you stop and end up realising that you won’t do that in real life.” “All in all, it was a great experience,” she put across.
‘Don’t break out of character no matter what’
Theyie Keditsu, who played the role of Grace Reddy, said “acting was so out of my comfort zone and if it wasn’t for the pandemic, I wouldn’t have done it. With death staring you in the face for two years, I said to myself that ‘life is too short.’” And that’s how she became part of the series, even as she confessed that, “I gave it my all!”
This, despite the contention of whether acting is really respectable especially after a certain age and generation, she impressed upon. She was also overwhelmed with the workshop while especially making mention of Shashi Bhushan, Nitin NS Goel & Sawan Tank, who took their acting workshop. “They deserve to be acknowledged for the feat of preparing non actors like me for my role. I’m truly grateful to them,” she expressed.
One of few things that really made her appreciate about acting, she said is, “don’t break out of character no matter what.” For me, it was a small role, she added, but seeing the amount of work that has gone into making the series, she affirmed that, “I made sure I memorized all my lines.”
“My husband Nagesh (who played the role of Kapil Reddy) was the best!” she further stated while highlighting that, “he is such a nice, down-to-earth person.” They were all so good, she went on to say while putting across that “they never made you feel like you don’t know what you doing. The way they approach you, the positive vibes in the set, everybody doing their jobs well. It was just a treat to be with them.”
‘Nagaland is a virgin land for storytelling’
For Bendang Walling, being featured in the web series is something that he will never forget in life not just because it was a huge break for him as an actor but also because he had to leave for Darjeeling for the shoot on the night of January 19, 2023—the day he got married.
“Paatal Lok will remain a very special web series not just because I acted in it, but many things evolved around that time, and it was also a big breakthrough moment,” he stated. After going through the script and the role of his character—the Sub-Inspector Isaac, he thought to himself, “this is what we are. The new generation, we are caught up with the system that whatever you are asked to do, you do it because the system demands it.”
Stating that his character and Jaideep Ahlawat’s portrayal of Inspector Hathiram Chaudhary are similar, he illustrated that, “both are very honest, they do their duty in a way that doesn’t hurt others, but cannot express much because they are in the system. At the same time, they both have very emotional attachment to their people.”
Walling, an alumnus of the National School of Drama, had returned home for this very reason- emotional attachment with his people. Given that the majority of the Nagaland cast were first timers, he pronounced that, “It’s no more a church or educational drama, it has to be very natural and all our fresh actors delivered. I am awestruck and totally proud of our Naga cast and wish and pray that even in the days to come, they would take up this art either as a profession or a passion.”
“Nagaland is a virgin land as far as storytelling is concerned,” he also underscored while maintaining that Paatal Lok is a first-of-its-kind which has categorised North East in a very general way given their traditions, cultures or very way of life and categorically termed it as a “new language of filmmaking” and a “very creative way of educating our people.”
Although filmmaking a very new idea in the state, he stated hope that the younger generation would vigorously pursue this field and also get themselves enrolled in film institutions to really learn the craft while impressing upon that being self-taught has limitation of imagination.
“I think that is when the concept of a film industry and theatre will start to bloom, with a good foundation and through the knowledge of an institution,” he put across.
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