Songs of Forgotten Trees: Why Naaz Shaikh’s journey from a village in Assam to Venice is pure cinema

When the curtains rolled at the famed Orizzonti (Horizons) section of the Venice International Film Festival this September, much of the world was looking at Anuparna Roy, the director of Songs of Forgotten Trees, who carved history by becoming the first Indian filmmaker to win the Best Director Award in the category. Yet, behind the poetic visual frames of the film lies another story, one of resilience, rootedness, and quiet brilliance, that of its lead protagonist, Naaz Shaikh.

For those who haven’t yet heard her name, Naaz is not just another actress carving a niche in the competitive world of cinema. She is a daughter of Assam, from Dampur in Hajo, whose journey from a small-town in Assam to global red carpets is as compelling as the film itself.

Naaz’s identity is deeply woven into her roots. “I would not say Hajo, but Dampur,” she recently emphasized, asserting the pride she carries for her village. A place that, as she reminds us, has given India scientists and doctors, now has a global cinema artist to add to its heritage.

Her cinematic destiny first took shape at Seagull’s workshop in Mumbai, where she trained under the guidance of theater stalwarts. From there, Naaz carefully shaped her craft through films, plays, and television before landing in Roy’s project that would push her into international limelight.

In Songs of Forgotten Trees, Naaz plays an Assamese girl whose roots and memories are embodied in the soundscape of an old folk song. That song, as she revealed, was one her mother used to sing when Naaz was a child a piece of heritage that made its way into global cinema. “I extend my gratitude to Anuparna for using my mother’s song in the movie,” she said, her voice brimming with pride and emotion.

Naaz didn’t just act the role; she lived it. She spoke Assamese, sang Assamese, breathed Assamese into a story that travelled across oceans. In doing so, she became a cultural bridge, making audiences in Venice sway to the rhythms of her homeland.

While Bollywood stars and national media shower praise on the film—Priyanka Chopra, Alia Bhatt, Kriti Sanon among them—Naaz confesses there is a bittersweet edge. “I feel proud that big celebrities and national platforms are writing about our film, but sad that Assam’s own media is yet to fully embrace me,” she remarked.

It was only when Assam's veteran theater actor Baharul Islam highlighted on social media that Naaz was from Assam, that many realized the state had a direct connection to this global achievement. “If national media does not write about me, it won’t hurt. But I was born and brought up in Assam; I speak Assamese fluently. I will feel happy if Assam recognizes me as one of their own,” quipped Naaz.

Beyond the shimmer of Venice, Songs of Forgotten Trees has marked Naaz as one of the finest new faces in Indian cinema, a performer who carries authenticity wherever she goes. For her, this is not just a breakout role—it’s an arrival. For Assam, it’s a moment to reclaim one of its own, to celebrate a daughter who has extended the voice of her village to an international chorus.

And as the buzz around "Songs of Forgotten Trees" grows ahead of its Indian release, one thing is certain: Naaz Shaikh is not just playing the protagonist in a film. She is stepping into her role as a protagonist in Indian cinema itself.