Northeast in the Limelight: A Mixed Blessing
In 2025, the Northeast region of India found itself in the global spotlight, thanks to the increasing presence of Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms showcasing the region's diverse culture and landscapes. Yet, this newfound visibility in the living rooms of Indian households was marred by persistent discrimination and violence against young people from the region in public spaces.
Mainstream Media's Shift: A Step Forward
Three high-profile OTT shows in 2025, Paatal Lok Season 2, The Family Man Season 3, and Delhi Crime Season 3, set their narratives in the Northeast, marking a notable shift in mainstream streaming content. These shows integrated local settings, languages, and actors from the region, compelling viewers to confront the region's complexities beyond exoticized stereotypes.
Anek: A Missed Opportunity
However, this positive trend was overshadowed by the release of Anek in 2022. Despite initial promise, the film failed to portray the Northeast with nuance, treating it as a homogeneous entity. This oversight highlights the problem of representation without understanding, a pitfall that the 2025 shows managed to avoid, albeit with their own shortcomings.
Travel Demand Surge: A Silver Lining
Despite the persistent discrimination, the increased visibility of the Northeast in media led to a significant surge in travel demand to northeastern cities. Flight bookings to destinations such as Dimapur, Agartala, Guwahati, Imphal, and Itanagar rose sharply in 2025 compared to the previous year, according to The Great Indian Travel Index 2025 by ixigo.
The Street's Unchanging Story: A Tragic Reality
Sadly, the street's story remains different from the screen's. In December 2025, Anjel Chakma, a young student from Tripura, was attacked in Dehradun, highlighting that the Northeast continues to be read through suspicion, mockery, and racialised othering in everyday public spaces. This tragic incident underscores the need for a conversation that goes beyond representation.
Beyond Representation: The Way Forward
The tragedy of Anjel Chakma serves as a stark reminder that representation alone is not enough. Empathy is not automatic, and representation, no matter how sensitive, has its limits. The nation must not only learn to see the Northeast with nuance on the screen but also in everyday reality.
The incident sparked a wave of grief, anger, and solidarity across the nation. However, history suggests that such moments do not always translate into lasting change. To ensure that Anjel's death is not in vain, the conversation must shift towards addressing the deep-rooted issues of racial violence, discrimination, and othering that persist in Indian society.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor labelled the incident a national disgrace. But it reveals a failure not just of the nation's institutions but also of its imagination. To protect young men like Anjel walking down the street, the nation must imagine a more inclusive, empathetic India.