From Khasi Hills to Naga Villages, new series brings Northeast's voices to India

Guwahati, July 3: From the Angami hills of Nagaland and the living traditions of Meghalaya’s Khasi community to the riverine culture of Assam’s Mising people and the highlands of Arunachal Pradesh, the stories of Northeast India’s indigenous communities are set to reach a national audience through a new documentary series backed by Air India Express.

The airline on Thursday announced the launch of ‘Voices of the Land: Tales of Northeast’, a six-part documentary series that explores the region’s rich cultural heritage, oral traditions and deep connection between indigenous communities and their ancestral lands.

Premiering on JioHotstar on July 3, the series follows acclaimed actor Adarsh Gourav as he travels across Northeast India, meeting communities including the Angami of Nagaland, Khasi of Meghalaya, Biate and Mising of Assam, and Sherdukpen of Arunachal Pradesh.

Through music, folklore, craftsmanship and everyday life, the series seeks to bring to a wider audience stories that have long thrived within these communities but have largely remained outside mainstream narratives.

“The regions of Northeast India hold some of the most profound stories of our time—narratives of heritage, harmony and the intrinsic bond between indigenous peoples and their land,” said Siddhartha Butalia, Chief Marketing Officer of Air India Express.

For the airline, the series is also an extension of its efforts to celebrate India’s cultural diversity beyond simply connecting destinations. Through its ‘Tales of India’ initiative, Air India Express has highlighted regional art, literature and festivals, while several of its aircraft already feature motifs inspired by Northeast India’s textiles and indigenous art traditions.

The airline’s fleet carries designs inspired by the Tsüngkotepsü shawl of Nagaland, Assam’s Gamosa and Jaapi, Meghalaya’s Khneng, and traditional weaves from Manipur and Mizoram, turning its aircraft into flying showcases of the region’s cultural heritage.
Reflecting on his experience, actor Adarsh Gourav described the series as one of the most eye-opening journeys of his career.

“I was constantly in awe of the knowledge these communities had of their surroundings—the plants, the animals and everything the land provides. It’s not just about protecting nature, but also preserving the traditions and wisdom of people who have lived in harmony with it for generations,” he said.

The launch also comes as Air India Express expands its footprint in the Northeast. The airline currently operates more than 290 weekly flights from Agartala, Dibrugarh, Dimapur, Guwahati and Imphal and recently announced the first-ever direct flights connecting the region to West Asia, with services from Guwahati to Abu Dhabi and Dubai beginning in August.

For a region often portrayed through the lens of conflict, remoteness or tourism, Voices of the Land promises something different—a chance for the Northeast to tell its own stories, in its own voice, to the rest of India.

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