Bokavi Swu : From street plays to screen

Bokavi Swu has emerged as one amongst state’s most versatile theatre and film practitioners, carving a unique space where entertainment meets social consciousness.
Hailing from Kilo old village under Satakha Range, Bokavi is the son of Yenito Swu and Vitoli Swu, and today stands as a prominent name in Nagaland’s creative and awareness-driven art movement.
Bokavi is the director of BZ Entertainment, a government-registered theatre and film society of Nagaland, and is also one of the founders of Dreamz Unlimited. In addition, he is also the founder and director of the DSBC drama team, through which he has mentored and trained several young artistes, whilst also serving as a drama teacher at a reputed school here in Dimapur.
Expanding his footprint beyond the state, Bokavi has also worked as an Assistant Director in the Bollywood web series “The Family Man 3”, while acting in acclaimed series such as Paatal Lok. His acting credits further include Doordarshan serials and several local films like Nana: A Tale of Us, Right to Information and Census.
Bokavi maintained that in his job as the assistant director in the Bollywood web series “The Family Man 3”, he served as a bridge between the director and cast from Mumbai and the cast from Nagaland, where more than 2500 Nagas were casted for various scenes.
He also opined that he is the first Naga to be an assistant director for an “A” Grade Bollywood web series.
According to him, his most impactful contributions have been in the field of street theatre for public awareness.
He informed that he has performed 121 street plays for Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) and Department of Health & Family Welfare across districts including Noklak, Shamator, Tuensang, Kiphire, Tseminyu, Kohima, Peren, Dimapur, Niuland and Chümoukedima, whilst adding that his street plays have also covered all districts of Nagaland on themes such as natural disasters, earthquakes and landslides for Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority, as well as sanitation and hygiene under the Swachh Bharat Mission for PHED, Government of Nagaland.
Over the years, it is learned that Bokavi has directed numerous short films for both government departments and private organisations, using cinema as a medium for education and social change.
His body of work spans awareness films on HIV/AIDS, child labour, women and disability rights, public health, energy conservation, biodiversity conservation, drug abuse, and social reforms.
Among his notable projects is “LOSHA – The King in the Making (2022)”, directed by him and produced by BZ Entertainment, which highlights issues of clean elections, good governance and contemporary socio-political scenario of the state.
He has also directed and acted in impactful short films such as “Shattered Dreams” (Childline 1098), “Oh My Bulb”, “I Hate Darkness”, “The Precious”, and “Khetsünhe Xamunu” (Sunflower), many of which were screened across the state and released on official government platforms.
Bokavi’s association with the Hornbill Festival also includes directing and performing at the opening and closing ceremonies in 2015 under Dreamz Unlimited, and directing theatrical production in 2019 under BZ Entertainment.
In recognition of his contribution to cinema, Bokavi has received the “Best Actor (Male) Award” for Nagamese film at the Nagaland Film Association Awards 2021, while his feature film “Nana: A Tale of Us” went on to win accolades at the 2021 Prag Cine Awards.
Ending the interview, Bokavi shared that with his experience across theatre, film and street performances, he aspires to continue using his storytelling as a powerful tool, not just to entertain, but to inform, inspire and ignite social change across Nagaland and beyond.