Axone: A Recipe of Disaster

Starring: Sayani Gupta, Vinay Pathak, Dolly Ahluwalia, Lin Laishram, Adil Hussain

Directed By: Nicholas Karkongor

Produced By: Siddharth Anand Kumar, Vikram Mehra

Year of Release: 2020

Running Time: 1 hour 40 minutes

Axone shot extensively in the lanes of Munirka and Humanyunpur, Delhi tells the tale of a group of friends who wish to surprise one of their friends on her wedding day by cooking her favourite dish. It may seem to be an easy job but it isn’t. You know why? Well because of the simple fact that these friends are from North East India and they eat “different” food which “stinks”. Disgusting, isn’t it! But sorrowfully it is the hard reality of the typical Indian mindset which does not consider the North East to be a part of India.

The film chronicles the struggles these youngsters have to face in Delhi where they are considered to be outsiders. They are made fun of for their facial features, assaulted because they are “foreigners”, the girls are eve teased and what not. The so called “Indians” also take away from these people the right to follow their own culture, traditions and food habits. They are made to feel as aliens in their own country just because they follow practices which are a bit different from the rest of the country.

Axone is a satire which seeks to bring the daily hardships faced by the North Eastern people in North Indian cities like Delhi to the fore. They have to face hardships and problems even while cooking their favourite dish as if they are doing something illegal. The film also showcases the beautiful bond and friendship these immigrants from the North East form among themselves when they fail to make friends from the North. They form their own community, a family, a home away from home in the crowded streets of Delhi.

Axone is a heart touching story with soulful music and vibrant costumes which give us a glimpse into the life of North East India. It has been beautifully shot in the crowded streets of Delhi and is a must watch for anyone who wishes to get an insight into the lives and struggles of the ethnic minorities in India. We definitely need more films like this one in mainstream Indian cinema as they might go a long way in changing the people’s perception about the North East and to help them consider these people as our own.

By

Shraddha Shubhdarshini

IG Handle: @shraddhashubhdarshini_965

(Shraddha Shubhdarshini, is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science. Her real idea of fun is spending time with books perched upon the top of her bunk bed. She is a complete indoors person who loves reading and watching Hindi movies)