The Santhal rebellion started in 1855 under the leadership of Sidhu and Kanhu against the oppression of police, atrocities of landlords and moneylenders, ill-treatment of small farmers by land revenue officials in the area of Rajmahal hills .
Santali cinema has its presence in the states of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam, Orissa, parts of Nepal, Jhapa District &Morang District, where the Santhal people live.