Naga Brothers with their Best Picture Award for ‘Among the Fallen’ at the 1st Nagaland Short Film Festival, 2022. (From Right: writer Impukumba, Ajemer Ajem, and Imdongzoba Ajem)
Kanili Kiho
Dimapur | September 6
Naga Brothers has been quietly winning over audiences with short films spanningaction, thriller, drama, comedy, and romance. Their films carry a striking candour—clear, simple, and unpretentious, yet profound, often blending themes of conflict, culture and politics that reveal the intricacies of Naga society.
What started as a fun exploration gradually grew into something bigger when people began connecting with it.How did it all begin? What inspired Naga Brothers to pick up the camera and tell stories in this form? The Morung Express sat down for a virtual interview with a crew member, actor Ajemer Ajem, who spoke about their creative beginnings, the challenges of independent filmmaking and the dreams they are chasing through the lens.
Ajem, who also handles social media and clients,shared that it was their love for storytelling and curiosity to try the unknown that inspired them to create Naga Brothers. “It began with us trying out new things, and experimenting with videos. Wejustlove doing this,” he said.
They wanted to showcasetheir humour, culture, and everyday life from their point of view. Picking up a camera felt like the easiest way to do it. Since launching their YouTube channel in 2022, they have steadily grown to over 32,000 subscribers.
At its core is a close-knit crew: Imdongzoba Ajem, who works magic with the lens and edits; Ajemer Ajem, actor and creative lead; Gwachulo Kemp, the sound master, making sure every voice is heard; and Marlepden Yongpur, actor, bringing characters to life.
Beginnings
Their journey in filmmaking began long before they officially came together as ‘Naga Brothers.’ “We’ve actually been into this since around 2009-10,” they recall. Back then, they even created a short film, Parrot City, using nothing more than a 12-megapixel Nikon digital camera, a story, they said is worth telling another day.
Their pursuit has always been driven more by passion than professional training. As Ajem put it, “We genuinely enjoy the whole process—from coming up with ideas to shooting and sharing it. That’s what keeps us going.”Their biggest teacher has been the classic trail-and-error method: do it, fail, learn, and try again.
The team refuses to be confined to a single genre. “Today it might be action, tomorrow a rom com, and the next day something completely random,” Ajem explained. Each genre lets them explore new ideas and styles, making the process rewarding for the team and keeping the audience equally engaged.
Choosing a favourite genre isn’t easy. Comedy comes most naturally, since they love making people laugh, but action and thriller provide an extra rush of challenge and adrenaline. “And rom coms? Well, sometimes we don’t mind being Romeos for a day—even if the Juliets are missing,” Ajem quipped.
Over time, this approach hassteadily refined their skills while keeping their passion alive. Each project remains a fresh classroom, offering new lessons and challenges. Recently, they bagged third position in the Bingeboxx Short Film Contest. The experience taught them a great deal about teamwork and storytelling. “Now we focus more on the small details while enjoying the process even more,” he noted.
In 2022, Naga Brothers also won the Best Picture Award for ‘Among the Fallen’ at the 1st Nagaland Short Film Festival, organised by the Nagaland Film Association.
What’s Next?
They hinted atventuring into new territory. While not entirely new to the world, it would be a first for Naga society. “Can’t wait to show you what’s coming,” they said.
If budget, location, and casting were no limitation, Ajem admitted they would go big. “As for the cast, that will be a surprise, if only they say yes,” he added.
Outside filmmaking, the group also pursues photography and sound recording. Beyond work, they prefer to keep life simple: watching films, listening to music, or enjoying everyday moments. Nothing fancy, just the small things that keep them going.
Message to the MVPs
“To everyone who has been cheering us on—thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We are just some crazy guys with cameras and ideas, but your love makes us feel like we’re doing something bigger. Stick with us, laugh with us, cry with us—we promise to keep telling stories that are worth your time. You are the real MVPs!”
