In the documentary film Aronai (Weaving Dreams), director Swati Vishnoi travels to a tiny village in the Kokrajhar district, which serves as the gateway into Northeast India. There, local customs have remained unaltered for centuries and include the production of “eri” peace silk. 

This rare tradition yields a thread born entirely without suffering or killing; instead, silkworm cocoons are gathered only after opening naturally, offering renewed life to the insects while providing raw fiber that serves human dreams. The sight of the mist-shrouded hills marks the beginning of the weaving process for the villagers, where women Bodo weavers skillfully spin the thread from its origins to create elaborate, multi-colored textiles using the ancestral knowledge of the land.

“The people on screen are not actors, but the weavers themselves, who gave us their time, their stories, and allowed us a small glimpse into a world that has existed long before we arrived with a camera,” Vishnoi said.

As a visual storyteller, Vishnoi is dedicated to creating deeply women-oriented films that explore the delicate intersection of human tradition, regional identity, and the natural world. Recognizing cinema as a tool for cultural preservation and empowerment, her directorial approach focuses on amplifying the voices of women in close-knit communities.

With Aronai, Vishnoi seeks to bring her vision to the Indigenous world of Bodo women weavers while supporting their timeless craft and honoring the small, beautiful world of mutual love and solidarity these women share. In so doing, she translates their heritage into a poetic experience for global audiences.