U Tirot Sing Syiem — the popular syiem (chief) of Hima Nongkhlaw or the Nongkhlaw state of the pre-Independence era — has been brought to life in a computer-generated animated film by young minds who have gifted Meghalaya its first animated movie.

U Tirot Sing is recognised as a foremost freedom fighter in the Khasi hills. On April 2, 1829, hundreds of men attacked a British garrison where most of the British soldiers were killed, giving rise to the Anglo-Khasi War. However, U Tirot Sing and his men could not endure the might of the British army. He was captured and deported to Dhaka where he died on July 17, 1835.

Inspired by his life and struggle, a group of talented young people under the Cosmic Clusters banner, came out with the animated film U Syiem.

The film explores the life of U Tirot Sing who fought the East India Company against the oppression of his people. The controversial treaty (No-LXXXIV) was the turning point that led to — Awakening Day — April 4, 1829, transforming the young chief into a war commander through the tactics of guerrilla warfare.

Recently, the film was screened for three consecutive days in Shillong where the young and the old thronged U Soso Tham Auditorium to catch a glimpse of the first animated movie.

“The challenge it takes to make a film on the life of a warrior like U Tirot Sing is exceedingly difficult to present, especially through the medium of animation. As a team, we tried our best in the areas of script, storyboard, 
animation, voice-overs, visual effects as well as music production to bring forth the personality and the story of his (U Tirot Sing) life in one hour, developing our own cost-effective production pipeline for a shoestring budget,” U Syiem director and writer Ban Casper Mawlong said.

Cosmic Clusters had spent a little over Rs 30 lakh to produce the movie which has received critical acclaim from a cross-section of the audience.

While the story is inspired by actual events, Mawlong said certain characters, characterisations, locations and dialogues were “fictionalised” for the purpose of dramatisation without any intent to hurt the sentiments of any person living or dead.

On the film’s purpose, Mawlong said: “Animation is a very powerful medium in delivering a message, and it can also educate an audience, both young and old. The animated movie, U Syiem, (U Tirot Sing Syiem) will spread the awareness of our culture and history of our tribe to the world as the dubbing language is in English with Khasi subtitles. U Tirot Sing would once again become an icon and hero for our children and might replace other cartoon heroes given the fact that U Syiem quality standard and benchmark is much higher.”  He also said the core idea and concept of the movie was to bring “history back and educate the world about our culture”.

Cast and crew of U Syiem

Director and writer: Ban Casper Mawlong (a decade of experience in the animation industry, many works 
featured in Cartoon Network India and involved with Canadian animation and VFX Films)

3D generalist: M. Janai N. Talang (worked as a freelancer for different advertising agencies and VFX production houses in India contributing to art design concepts, logos, live action films.) 

Music director: Gregory Syiem (a musician trained by Trinity London well versed in the field of recording, 
mixing and composing orchestral music)

Animation Superviser: Souvik Majumder 
Sound designs: Nixon Kharbithai 
Traditional Music: Phillip Ivor Marbaniang
Percussion: Wanphai Lyngdoh
Voice over: Baribor Khongwir
Voice over: Isadora Kyndiah
Voice over: Ricksang Diengdoh
Voice over: Sandrew Syiem