Axone

Axone (pronounced Akhuni), named after a traditional Naga dish, is a bittersweet film portraying the struggles faced by Northeastern Indians in the national capital of New Delhi. Directed by Nicholas Kharkongor, the story revolves around a group of North-easterners getting together to host a wedding party in an apartment and their attempt to cook a special dish for the occasion.

The racial slurs, the out-of-place feels, the sexist comments, the hampering of the right to cook and consume what one wants - all of these pains are packed into a neat 97-minute film that also raises a toast to the lives of these regular people. Each of the lead characters (Upasna, Chanbi, Minam) manage to leave an impression. The supporting cast is okay-to-good, with some getting remarkable scenes to themselves (like the drunk friend). The tone jumps frequently between happy to angry to upsetting but the performances manage to hold it together.

Even the 'comic relief' character gets a memorable scene where he gets called a "****ing Indian" and asks his Northeastern counterparts whether they don't consider themselves Indians. One of the characters' backstory is based on a horrific real-life racist bullying incident and to the director's credit, it fits incredibly well into the film's structure. The humour too is cent per cent situational and doesn't go overboard. While the film carries all the traits of a direct-to-OTT movie, Axone thankfully doesn't fall into the list of 'message movies' that bite off more than they can chew.

Food wins! Friendship wins! Sisterhood wins! Love wins!

My love for the north east people made me like the movie. Read many reviews on Sayani not being a typical Nepali but i loved the way she acted in that part being naive and caring . The music was so nice, the drums kept the rhythm of the movie going.

The cast and the characters in the small sweet indie film is really worthy to be watched and loved.

Axone tasted yum because I know the taste and smoked pork is amazing to the tastebuds and soul

Lived in Munirka, Delhi during my 3 university years. I totally feel it in my bones what the movie tried to bring across. Loved the Diversity Ethnic colors, differences & the battle with mainland Indian. I also lived in south India where I felt non of the above differences highlighted in the movie. Love the movie makers attempt to educate those who are not aware of how diverse & rich India is with ethnicity. And also how much more we have to be tolerant with our rich God gifted indigenous ethnicity rather than duel in our box. For the movie to become global, we desperately needs more.

As I am from Northeast I could relate this movie with my northeastern friends, but I will give a faithful review unbiased review Story is new and very well directed and no over dramatic or fancy shot has been taken which makes it a realistic movie , but at times I felt like some shots were unwanted and flat, movie could have few more humorous moments, but the movie ended very well , please give it a watch and praise new talents from every corner of our very own country... well directed movie Nicholas Kharkongor !!!!

No masaala, right to the point. Excellent acting by all cast. Some nice symbolic acting of shop watcher. Extra Kudos to Shiv character, awesome!!

When we talk about Floyd at his time of year, racism, discrimination, is everywhere in many different form (religion, caste, race, profession, place of birth, your eye shape, skin color, rich, poor, etc.) but in between all this unfortunate circumstances, there is pure warmth of friends, families, and many nice people. Peace !!