Rajdeep Choudhury’s ‘A Teacher’s Gift’ shines at Tribeca, taking Assam’s storytelling global

Rajdeep Choudhury’s ‘A Teacher’s Gift’ shines at Tribeca, taking Assam’s storytelling global

Rajdeep Choudhury, an actor and writer from Silchar, Assam, has taken a remarkable step onto the global stage with his film A Teacher’s Gift, which has been officially selected for the Tribeca Festival Lisboa. The milestone not only celebrates the film’s compelling narrative but also highlights Choudhury’s own artistic journey from small-town stages to international recognition.

The film tells the story of Rohan, a Hindi teacher in London whose confident exterior hides emotional complexities. Rohan’s backstory—growing up in an Indian village, speaking fluent English despite hardships, and finding refuge in books—forms the foundation of a nuanced performance. In one key moment, young Rohan responds to a question about his books by saying they “fell from the sky,” capturing the film’s central theme: knowledge as grace, and the mysterious ways teachers shape lives.

Directed by Artur Ribeiro and produced by Eric Ollerenshaw OBE, A Teacher’s Gift brings together a global ensemble including Anthony Calf, Anjali Patil, Dhruv Sehgal, Varun Buddhadev, Virgílio Castelo, Jacinta Mulcahy, Anita Booth, and Paula Lobo Antunes. The story explores the collision of past and present, as Rohan is forced to confront truths he has long avoided. Themes of love, mentorship, and identity intertwine with questions of courage and vulnerability.

Choudhury delivers what critics have described as a performance of extraordinary emotional range—shifting from boyish energy to fragile vulnerability in a single scene. The film avoids sensationalism, instead treating sensitive issues like identity and personal struggle with honesty and compassion. This approach reflects Choudhury’s own bold choices as both co-writer and lead actor, willing to take risks in a career that spans Bollywood, British cinema, and global streaming platforms.

His journey began with childhood performances in Assam, grew through theatre in Mumbai, and expanded further after his move to London, where he also wrote and produced short films such as Jackpot and London Pandit. Speaking to India Today NE, Choudhury shared advice for aspiring actors from the Northeast: “Dare to dream, and believe in your dream. If you have the talent, nobody can stop you.”

With A Teacher’s Gift making its European premiere at Tribeca, supported by the NFDC, Choudhury joins a wave of new creative voices from Northeast India reshaping global cinema. His story is a reminder that the most transformative lessons often arrive when we are ready to receive them—just like a teacher’s gift.