Two Non-Feature Gems Shine at 56th IFFI

By Pickle November 24, 2025

At IFFI, Battlefield and Hamsafar prove that history and heart echo far beyond the frame—preserving memory and emotion through the art of film.

The 56th International Film Festival of India continues to dazzle cineastes with a rich tapestry of non-feature films, each carrying the power to move, provoke, and preserve. This year, two extraordinary offerings—Manipuri documentary Battlefield and Marathi short Hamsafar—have captured hearts and sparked conversation.

‘Battlefield’: Manipur’s Untold War Stories Find Their Voice

For nearly a decade, director Borun Thokchom’s life intertwined with the ghosts and legends of Manipur’s World War II legacy. Battlefield is not just a documentary—it’s a mission, a cinematic excavation of memory, myth, and music from one of the bloodiest frontlines of the Second World War.

“Every Manipuri grows up with these stories,” Thokchom reflected at the IFFI press meet. “But there are no proper records—no books, no detailed media. If we don’t capture them now, they might disappear forever.” With a palpable sense of responsibility, he revisited the oral histories, folk songs, and battlefield myths carried by elders, determined to bring their truth to the world.

The film’s journey began alongside community historians like Rameshwar and Rajeshwar, who, armed with nothing but metal detectors, unearthed remnants and stories from the jungle soil. Battlefield weaves these discoveries into a moving homage to Manipur’s unsung heroes, their sacrifices, and the cultural scars left by war.

Producers Manjoy Lourembam and Dr. Radheshyam Oinam expressed deep gratitude to IFFI for selecting a film so rooted in memory and meaning. “Battlefield isn’t just about the past,” they noted. “It’s about passing on these stories—our legacy—to future generations.”

‘Hamsafar’: A Radio, a Family, and the Soundtrack of Companionship

If Battlefield is about preserving communal memory, Hamsafar is a meditation on the quiet relationships that shape us. Inspired by a mischievous childhood episode, director Abhijit Arvind Dalvi crafts a poignant Marathi tale set around a beloved radio transistor.

Dalvi’s story springs from boyhood curiosity—he once hid his grandfather’s cherished radio, eager to see how the old man would cope. The fallout was swift, the lesson lasting. Decades later, rediscovering the very same transistor, Dalvi found the spark for Hamsafar.

What sets this film apart? In Hamsafar, the radio isn’t just a prop; it’s the voice of the story. All dialogue is delivered through radio broadcasts—none of the characters speak directly. This creative choice transforms the transistor into both a narrative device and a symbol of emotional connection, echoing the loneliness and companionship of a bygone era.

“The radio was more than just a gadget to my grandfather—it was a companion,” Dalvi shared. “The silence when it was gone revealed just how deep that bond ran.”

Stories that Resonate, Stories that Remain

Both Battlefield and Hamsafar are proof of how non-feature films at IFFI continue to break new ground—whether by unearthing the forgotten battlegrounds of Manipur or tuning into the fragile frequencies of human connection. They remind us that cinema’s strength lies not just in spectacle, but in the stories that shape who we are, and who we remember.