Green is the Fire’s Tint
Somi (37), an indigenous woman, faces eviction from her land due to the opening of an iron mine. Somi was an armed Naxalite rebel; now, she’s determined to lead her community in fighting against displacement and deforestation–this time without her rifle.
Somi, an indigenous woman, dedicated her life to safeguarding the rights of India’s indigenous communities as a Naxalite Maoist rebel. After deserting the movement, she settled with her family on a piece of land occupied with other indigenous former rebels.
Their presence in this settlement has been “tolerated” by the police and the forest department, but the ownership of it wasn’t established.
Few months ago, Somi and the other families received a notice of eviction: a presumed owner of the land is demanding they leave immediately.
This land has become valuable because of the opening of an iron mine nearby. In addition to land speculation, mining has been devastating the jungle they rely on.
GREEN IS THE FIRE’S TINT accompanies Somi as she assumes leadership against the eviction, firm in her belief that the land belongs to her community. They have an ace up their sleeves: the Indian law states that if a land is occupied by someone for at least 12 years and no legal claim is made, the occupier can become owner of it. Somi has been living there for 11 years. In 2025 she could claim the land’s ownership. The film plays out in this interval.
GREEN IS THE FIRE’S TINT invites a reflection on themes of displacement and belonging while confounding our ideas of traditional versus modern and backward versus advanced.