Homegrown star’s homecoming

Adil Hussain needs no introduction as he has been able to book a sizeable space of his own in the world of acting — be it theatre or cinema. In addition to winning the best actor award in the New Jersey Independent South Asian Cine Festival (NJISACF) for Lessons in Forgetting, he has the rare honour of featuring in three films, including Mira Nair’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist and Ang Lee’s Life Of Pi, which were screened at the International Film Festival of India in Goa, including the opening and closing film.

A scene from his latest Assamese film Sringkhal with co-actor Badal Das. Pix: Abdul Gani

The actor, who is the face of the region in the national film scene and beyond, is set to work in an Assamese movie after 22 years. In an exclusive conversation with Abdul Gani, while shooting for the Prabin Hazarika directed Sringkhal*, Hussain recounts his experiences.

Q. What does it feel like doing your first ever Assamese film as lead character?

A. It feels like coming home after a long hiatus. I have started my life with Assamese films way back in 1982. The last one was in 1988 — Pita-Putra. I’m returning to the scene after 22 years. I don’t have to act here — all I need to do is be myself. I’m so deeply attached emotionally with the atmosphere here in Assam that characters like these come naturally to me. And of course, playing the lead feels good. When I entered the film industry, I never expected to be in the lead, al- though I wanted to be, because I was just a 19 year old guy then. My understanding of acting was not enough during that period. Now, I think I’m equipped to do a decent job — to bring a three dimensional character into a role. The expectations w ill be high. People have seen m e in films all these years, so t hey will definitely be watching c ritically. I hope to bring a deg ree of reality to the film.

Adil Hussain. Pix: Abdul Gani

Q Why did you choose to do Sringkhal?

A. I THINK I’m lucky to be a part of a film which has such a beautiful and simple storyline. At present, I have not seen many similar movies anywhere. Story telling which comes from your heart is the key. This is the kind of the film in which Prabin da’s heart is urging him to tell a story. I have known Prabin da for a long time. When I read the script I was blown over. It is a script like Artist. It has that kind of simplicity. It has always been very difficult to write a straightforward script. Prabin da has been involved with the story for a long time so he could prepare it so lucidly.

Q. How has the transition from Life Of Pi to Sringkhal been?

A. As an actor my job is to respect and to accommodate different kinds of situations, roles, ideas and people. The inner flexibility of ideas is important. And now I’m Kalidas, an Assamese guy. Every character I play is always more of me. The character is not outside of you. When you are playing different characters, you are merely discovering unexplored sides of your personality. The areas which we do not get to encounter in our day-today life, we do it through our roles in films. That’s the fun part, and that is why I act.

Q. How do you cope with your newly gained celebrity status?

A. I think it is part of my profession. When I used to do theatre, I was known to people who were associated with theatre and the people who watched it. But film being a farreaching medium, the public began recognising me. When I was at the Chandigarh airport before coming to Guwahati, I was giving autographs and photographs for one hour. I have to face my consequences gracefully. But I have faced more such situations in Delhi, Mumbai or in Chandigarh than in Guwahati.

Q. How has working with Ang Lee and Mira Nair been like?

A. The first thing I noticed about them is their meticulous planning and precise execution. Their eyes are so trained that they notice the details in everything. They will go to any extent to get it perfect in every sense of the word. The second and the important part is that they are so humble. Ang Lee is the most humble person I have ever met in my life so far. He does not even consider himself as director. That was indeed a great learning period for me. I think every director in India should attend a workshop to understand what direction means.

Q. What do you think of Assam as a film destination?

A. Let me just say that I will try my best to project it in a positive light. Assam, and the entire Northeast, is a fantastic place to shoot films. There are innumerous locations here. But the government should also take responsibility in this regard. The first thing is to project Assam as a safe place. There are number of bandhs taking place every month. So such an unpredictable situation is not very good for any production company. The professional groups of outside would rather prefer other places where the government takes responsibility to clear permissions and red tape. The government here abdicates this responsibility.

Q. You did an ad for Tanishq right?

A. They called me and I asked them to send me the script. I liked it and did it. But I’m very particular about the product. I’m not going to advertise for drinks like Pespi or Coca Cola because I do not believe in these products. I will endorse products in which I believe.

Q. Tell us about your next projects?

A. Recently, I shot a film based on a 12th century story set in Punjab. I’m not allowed to speak about it. Then, there is Blemish Light, an Indo-American production for which shooting starts from December 11. It has a very strong story. Besides that, I’m also featuring in a Bengali film — Kasher Dewal with Rupa Ganguly. After that there is another film called Feast of Varanashi, a British-Indian production. The shoot of Sunrise starts from March next year.

* Sringkhal is based on the story of Bhabendra Nath Saikia by the same name.

http://sevensisterspost.com/homegrown-stars-homecoming/

Read More

Bard has bigger fan-following in Bengal: Lyricist

Abdul Gani

Guwahati: Legendary singer-composer Bhupen Hazarika never had a dearth of listeners but his image surpassed popular imagination in neighbouring West Bengal, claimed noted Bengali lyricist Mintu Mukherjee.

The veteran musician, who is credited with translating the bard’s songs in Bengali, was in Guwahati to pay tribute to Bhupenda on his first death anniversary on Monday.

“Jekhane phul phute/ seikhane baroder gondhoke ghrina kora ek mon/ sei bidrohi mon take jatio smoron/dite hobe tar dam/ shardha bhalobasai dilam pronam,” the lines came out spontaneously, as Mukherjee sat on the courtyard of the balladeer’s residence in Nizarapar on Monday.

Mintu Mukherjee at Bhupenda's residence.

In an exclusive chat with Seven Sisters Post, Mukherjee said his visit to Assam will not be the same anymore, in the absence of the legendary singer-composer.

“I was surprised to see Bhupenda’s popularity in Bengal. His image in Bengal is far bigger than in Assam. People there are still crazy for his songs,” he said after paying tribute to the bard.

Mukherjee, who had been associated with Bhupenda since 1957, worked in several films together.

Some of them went on to become colossal hits in Bengal and other places like Jeevan Trishna, Jonakir Aalo, Doi Beshra, Chameli Memsaab, Ekhano Pinjar and Gajmukta, apart from movies Rudali, Ek Pal, Darmiyaan: In Between, Aarop and Gaja Gamini.

Mukherjee recounted the days he spent with Bhupenda in Kolkata and other parts of Bengal.

“Not only Bhupenda, people who used to accompany him during concerts also used to get tremendous attention. During the Yuva Utsav in 1957, I was surprised to see the attendance of the crowd. Even though all the big names like Salil Choudhury and Hemanta Mukherjee had already performed, there were still 40,000-odd people cheering for Bhupenda when he came onto the stage. This was the kind of popularity that he enjoyed,” he said.

Bhupenda performed in Kolkata for the last time in 1999.

Mukherjee, who is a frequent visitor to Assam, is also familiar with other Assamese cultural icons like Bishnu Prasad Rabha.

“I used to call him Bishnuda. Though I had not had the opportunity of working with him, I was well versed with his works. I was also aware that he deeply influenced Bhupenda and brought a sense of revolution in him,” he added.

The noted lyricist, who hails from Tollygunge in West Bengal, also said that he would be happy to do more translations of Bhupenda’s songs into Bengali. (Seven Sisters Post)

http://sevensisterspost.com/bard-has-bigger-fan-following-in-bengal-lyricist/

Read More

Dekas of Sonapur grow money on trees, encourage others to follow suit

Abdul Gani

Sonapur : If somebody had said that money doesn’t grow on trees, you will say he must be lying – after you meet Hareswar Deka of Upper Tepesia village in Sonapur area, some 35 km from Guwahati, in Kamrup district.

A retired state government official, Deka has proved by dint of his intelligence and hard work that money indeed grows on trees. And his money now grows on his rubber trees.

Hareswar Deka at his plantation. Pic: Abdul Gani

Deka has set an example how economic progress can be achieved in rural areas of the state through rubber plantations in a systematic way.

“I’m quite satisfied now with the money I’m getting from my trees and would urge people to do the same, if they really want a handsome return. It’s definitely one of the best ways for economic progress,” an elated Deka told Seven Sisters Post at his residence.

And not without reason – with a mere return of Rs45,000 in 1996, his earning from rubber soared to Rs14,77,000 last year. His experimentation with rubber started in 1986 when he planted 450 saplings on a plot of land measuring one hectare.

The rubbers being sun-dried. Pic: Rajiv Konwar

“I had a horticulture garden with various species of fruits, but as I was away most of the time due to my official engagements, some people used to destroy them. Hence I decided not to plant any fruit there. During that time, I came across a newspaper article which narrated the benefits of rubber plantation, and I immediately went to the Rubber Board office in Guwahati,” he said.

And there was no turning back. Now, along with his son Debajyoti, Deka’s rubber plantation covers an area of almost 14 hectares.

At present, the father son duo is selling raw rubber around Rs180 per kg either to the Rubber Board or any private party, depending on the international market. The Dekas said that in 2010 the price had jumped to Rs215 per kg.

Hareswar Deka's son Debajyoti at work. Pic: Abdul Gani

A full-grown tree gives up to 250 gram of rubber liquid per day. And, depending on the weather, they thus collect around two tonnes of liquid per month from one hectare of land. And this continues for almost nine months of the year. Around four litres of liquids can give 1 kg of rubber after processing – sun drying and smoke drying.

“But one has to be very careful while tapping the tree. We have to keep in mind that the tree does not get hurt. We collect the liquids every alternate day or after two days so that there is no pressure on the tree,” added the senior Deka, who even went to Kerala to study rubber plantation in 1997 with the help of the Rubber Board.

The Dekas have employed seven unemployed youths. Now, seeing their prosperity and hoping to repeat their success story, other villagers too have evinced keen interest in rubber plantation, and some of them have already started the cash crop cultivation.

Among them is Debeswar Pradhan, son of a farmer, who has started rubber plantation on his own with the help of World Vision India, an NGO that offered him 300 saplings. He has planted these on one hectare plot of land and nurturing another 350 saplings.

“We have realised that rubber can eradicate poverty after seeing Hareswar Deka and his family. We believe that if we work hard we too can prosper. We also thank World Vision for their support in this regard,” Pradhan said. (Seven Sisters Post)

http://sevensisterspost.com/dekas-of-sonapur-growmoney-on-trees-encourage-others-to-follow-suit/

Read More

Pothorughat saga now brought before the world

Abdul Gani

Guwahati: The only book in English on the historic peasants’ rebellion at Pothorughat in Darrang district in which as many as 140 peasants belonging to Hindu and Muslim community laid their lives for the sake of their country has finally found its place in the Library of Congress in America.

“It’s great news for all of us. It really meant a lot for us because the sacrifice made by our forefathers never got recognition the way it should have. Now the people in the world will come to know about it in detail,” said Bhargab Kumar Das, a member of Organising Committee for the National Level Seminar on the Pothorughat uprising by Agricultural Peasants, who published the book.

The author of the book – Pothorughat – is eminent writer Arup Kumar Dutta and it was released on September 28, 2010 by senior journalist Dhirendra Nath Bezbarua and Asam Sahitya Sabha president Rong Bong Terang.

The link for the Library of Congress catalogue record for the book is: http://lccn.loc.gov/2012493997.

“In this regard we would like to thank Hiranya Kumar Nath who is presently working as an Associate Professor of Economics at Sam Houston State University (SHSU) in Huntsville, Texas, USA for taking the initiative with the authority who after going through the book, readily agreed to catalogue it at the Library of Congress. We were trying hard to organise a national seminar in New Delhi on the Pothorughat issue but this development would help us to make the sacrifices of the peasants known at the national and international level. We are also thankful to Arup Kumar Dutta for writing the book,” Das further added.

Locals rued that though as many as 140 peasants belonging to Hindu and Muslim community had sacrificed their lives at the hands of British on January 28 of 1894 at a sleepy village of Pothorughat or Patharighat – some 16 km to the west from the district headquarters Mangaldai while raising their voice in a peaceful manner against the hiked land revenue, yet this chapter of the history of the Indian freedom struggle is little known in other parts of the country.

“The entire nation is well aware of the Jalliwanwala Bagh killing, but people outside the state of Assam are not aware of the Pothorughat rebellion which is significant in many ways. It took place much before the Jalliwanbalabagh massacre; the village farmers adopted the policy of non violence which was adopted by Mahatma Gandhi many years later and the entire rebellion was spontaneous without any prominent leader,” said another member. (Seven Sisters Post)

http://sevensisterspost.com/pothorughat-saga-now-brought-before-the-world/

Read More

Film documents Mayong’s magical history

Abdul Gani

Guwahati: An average youngster in the capital city of Assam may have made his umpteenth trip to Pobitora, just about 50 km from Guwahati and famed for its thick one-horned rhino population, but ask him about Mayong – chances are that he may not have even heard of the small village with an alluring history of magic and sorcery, albeit the fact that he has to travel through the area to reach the wildlife sanctuary.

Or at least Utpal Borpujari, a national-award winning film critic, would have us believe when he carried out an informal survey among 200 youths in Guwahati in 2011. “On July 15 last year, the day Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, released in India, we carried out an informal survey among 200 youths in the city to know whether they heard of Mayong. We were shocked, most of them had not,” he said.

This prompted Borpujari and a host of youngsters to come out with a film on the small cluster of villages in Morigaon district of Assam and the age-old practices and legends associated with black magic in the area. The result was Mayong: Myth/Reality, a 53minute documentary, which traces the cultural and historical elements of the area widely neglected so far in spite of being so rich in folklore.

“It also highlights the ancient manuscripts, books and tantric images in a bid to evoke the mind of researchers or even common tourists to visit the place,” explained Borpujari. “We got involved in a mission to explore Mayong visually – to see whether all those myths about black magic were just those or otherwise, and why despite its legendary status in Assamese folklore, the place remains largely unknown, and what locals think about their magical heritage,” he added.

“The irony is that most people with whom we interacted have travelled to Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary more than once, without knowing that they have travelled through Mayong. So, it was very important to throw light on the region,” said Borpujari, who is a member of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) and has served as a jury member in several leading international film festivals.

It is believed that the elements which have not been touched so far will be helpful for the research scholars. The documentary has tried to depict all these, said Borpujari. The documentary is being produced by Jayanta Goswami under the banner of Darpan Cine Production.

While the cinematographer is Biswajeet Changmai, the film has been edited by Parveen Sharma. The music has been composed by Anuraag Saikia and the narration has been done by Robin Kalita. Now the director is hoping to screen the film in film festivals in India and abroad before releasing it on DVD. (Seven Sisters Post)

Read More

Pune sheds light on NE burning issues

Abdul Gani

Guwahati: Far away from the killing fields of the Bodo heartland and volatile valleys of Manipur, a one-act play staged at Pune has evoked keen interest and discussions on Northeast’s troubled times. On Sunday, people in Pune were discussing Northeast and Assam as a one-act play on the life and struggles of “Iron Lady” Irom Sharmila was staged. 

The poster of the play 

Besides, noted scholars discussed the current situation prevailing in Assam in a bid to find a solution. “We are very proud and absolutely thankful to Ojas SV for her generosity and love for performing her acclaimed one-act play La Mashale,” Diganta Deka of Grubshup, who organised the event on Sunday, told Seven Sisters Post.

Pune-based theatre artiste Ojas S V adapted Malayalam playwright Civic Chandran’s drama Meira Paibi (Women torch-bearers of Manipur) in La Mashale to get the urban audience hooked onto the life of Manipur’s “Iron Lady”. Ojas has already performed the 40-minute-long soliloquy on stage several times across the country in the last couple of years. She says her objective is to bring people closer to the heroic life of Sharmila and to throw light on cases of human rights violation in Manipur.

The play, which is powered by poetry written by Sharmila herself, anecdotes from her life and the traditional folk stories of Manipur, tries to recreate the horrifying circumstances which made the 39-year-old civil rights activist sit on an indefinite hunger strike to protest against the ‘draconian’ Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).

“With the recent events in and about the Northeast, we feel really saddened but more resolved to do our best to continue to spread awareness about the region. I think more such events will make people aware about our region,” Deka further said.

Besides, a couple of prominent personalities from the Northeast also discussed the current issues with the people present on the occasion. Senior scientist at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) Dr Haladhar Dev Sarma and Giridhar Mahanta, one of the senior-most officers in the Assam government, were present on the occasion to share their view on the prevailing situation in Assam.

“It should be solved politically. Gradually the people have started feeling insecure. The movements too have failed to fetch results so it’s the time to address the core issue which is the influx of illegal Bangladesi nations,” Sarma said.

He also urged all the political parties to keep their personal agendas aside and focus on the common problem of the state.

On the other hand, Mahanta said that to solve the p re-independence issue — influx — public awareness is quite important. “Corruption too has played a major role in creating more problems in Assam,” he said.

In the 1980s, Dr Haladhar Dev Sarma was in the governing body of the All Assam Students’ Union (Aasu) leading the students’ movement against illegal immigration. Around the same time, Giridhar Mahanta was a senior Assam government official. (Seven Sisters Post)

http://sevensisterspost.com/pune-sheds-light-ne-burning-issues/

Read More

The bard’s voice flows with the Red River

Abdul Gani

Guwahati: I know, long ago/ the River used to speak/ but when he realised/ every drop of pain/ flows above horizon of words/ he surrendered to silence…”

The voice of the River is the “voice” of Bhupen Hazarika — the “baritone communicative” voice of the legendary balladeer. It is also the voice of Assam. A voice speaking out to the world from the silver screen. Cultural icon Bhupen Hazarika’s last recorded voice will finally reach his countless fans across the world when national award-winning director Bidyut Kotoky’s debut feature film Ekhon Nedekha Nodir Xipare is released on September 14.

Sanjay Suri and Victor Banerjee

The film — titled As River Flows in English — has a poem recited by an ailing Bhupen Hazarika in February 2010, a year before he passed away on November 5, 2011 in Mumbai. The poem represents the voice of the river Brahmaputra through the balladeer’s own. “Baritone communicative” was the term used by Russian leader Joseph Stalin to describe the voice of American singer Paul Robeson.

Significantly, the much talked film was inspired by Sanjay Ghosh, an activist who was kidnapped and later killed by Ulfa rebels in 1997 in Majuli. Even before its release, the film grabbed national headlines because of a controversy at the national film awards. The jury members had rejected the film from the awards on the grounds that it was not an Assamese film though the censor certificate clearly indicates it to be one.

“This film has come from the core of my heart and I would be happy if people like it. Viewers will decide about the outcome of my hard work and they will decide whether it’s an Assamese film or not,” said the Mumbai-based director, Kotoky.

The director, who was closely associated with Bhupen Hazarika, is on seventh heaven for having the icon’s voice in the film. “I could not have asked for anything more. Since my childhood I had the desire to work with Bhupen mama. But when I was making the film he was not in a position to direct the music of my film because of his ill-health. But when I visited him with the piece of poetry, he reacted positively. I was lucky enough that he lent his voice,” an emotional Kotoky said. He added, “Who could be a better voice to represent the river than Bhupen mama?”

The film —also made in Hindi —features the same set of acclaimed actors like Victor Banerjee and Sanjay Suri in the leading roles besides Bidita Bag, Raj Zutshi, Nakul Baid and Naveed Aslam.

Preeti Jhangiani and Zubeen Garg, who is also the music director of the film, also appear in cameo roles in the Hindi version. The National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), the producing agency of the film, said that the Hindi version too would be released soon. The film traces the story of a missing character — Sridhar Ranjan — in Majuli and his friend’s search for Sridhar. Sanjay Suri is playing a journalist who comes to Majuli to find information of his missing friend.

“I wanted to portray the situation of almost 90 per cent of the people who are stuck in between a conflict zone. Because their voice is never heard outside. Here Sridhar is a metaphor and he can be anybody. I do not know to what extent I would be successful. It’s up to the viewers,” Kotoky further said.

Besides, several renowned names are involved in the film including national award-winning cinematographer Madhu Ambat. Earlier this month, the cultural affairs department of the Maharashtra government organised a special screening of the film to mark the occasion of Bhupen Hazarika’s birth anniversary. Moreover, the film got an overwhelming response from global viewers at the Osian Cinefest film festival held in New Delhi. (Seven Sisters Post)
http://sevensisterspost.com/the-bards-voice-flows-with-the-red-river/

Read More

Bollywood mixes ‘Assamese’ with English Vinglish

Abdul Gani

Guwahati: How does it feel for an Assamese to learn English Vinglish? “Feels good,” according to the man who has done it.

Adil Hussain, the ‘face’ of Assam in Bollywood at present, is going places. And how. After a globe-trotting venture in the action-thriller Agent Vinod starring Saif Ali Khan, Hussain is now playing the role of Sridevi’s husband in her comeback movie set against the backdrop of London.

Sridevi, once the heartthrob of the country, is making a comeback to Bollywood after 15 long years. English Vinglish, an R Balki produced film, is slated for release on October 5 after its global premiere at the Toronto Film Festival on September 14.

Adil Hussain (centre) with Oscar winning sound designer Resul Pukooty and Amrit Pritam (left)

Significantly, the film has another Assam connection in the form of Amrit Pritam, who is the sound designer. Adil Hussain, who has already created a niche for himself in the world of acting, said that this film is essential for Indian viewers.

“I would say (this film is) very essential for Indian viewers to see because it deals with the hierarchy of language, especially the colonial language which is English. We have a tendency to look down on people who cannot speak English. You may be from Delhi or Goalpara — we all have this colonial hangover to look up at English which is simply a language, no more, no less,” Adil who also features in Ang Lee’s Life of Pi, told Seven Sisters Post.

Adil with Sridevi in English Vinglish

He also feels that this film would give a “hint why it is important to see our languages with respect and the importance to feel proud of them”.

Besides Sridevi and Adil, Priya Anand, Mehdi Nebbou, Sujata Kumar, Neelu Sochi Sodhi, Ross Nathan and others feature in the film which will also be released in Tamil and Telegu. Amitabh Bachchan makes a guest appearance in the Hindi version while renowned South Indian actor Ajith Kumar will be seen in the Tamil version. The film is being directed by debutant Gauri Shinde.

Adil, whose character as the sinister Colonel in Saif Ali Khan’s Agent Vinod recently was widely appreciated by the viewers and whose name is now frequently pronounced in Bollywood and beyond, said that his responsibility as an actor or a human being has increased.

“In one word… it feels good,” he said responding to this. “At the same time it becomes a responsible position. Because when people know you, they follow you or read every word you utter. People make a role model out of you. I’m concerned about that. One has to be vigilant about it,” he added.

Adil, who used to perform in a group of stand-up comedians — the Bhaya Mama Group in the early 1980s in Assam before moving to the National School of Drama, is excited to play husband to Sridevi.

“She has been extremely supportive to an actor like me who is not a star. Her way of acting — how she is aware of the camera and at the same time how she is truthful about it. That kind of acting she does which is very professional. She delivers at the highest level of satisfaction for the director. It’s been learning process from her,” he said.

Adil, who hails from Goalpara, has several projects in the pipeline in the coming days in which he would be seen in different roles. In Ang Lee’s Life of Pi, he plays Pi’s father. He will be also seen in a very important role in Vikramaditya Motwane’s Lootera which also features Ranveer Singh and Sonakshi Sinha.

“I’m an actor and I’m supposed to play every kind of role given to me. I need to find a way to be truthful and convincing in every possible role. Actors are meant to be act — no matter whether it’s Gandhi, Godse, Hitler or Jesus Christ,” he added.

Besides Adil, another Assam youth Amrit Pritam has designed the sound of the film with Oscar award winning Resul Pookutty. “I think it is a nice movie to watch with the family. I quite enjoyed working here and now we are waiting for the release. I’m also happy with Adil da’s acting in the film,” Amrit, who rose to fame working in Slumdog Millionaire in 2008, told Seven Sisters Post from Mumbai. (Seven Sisters Post)

http://sevensisterspost.com/bollywood-mixes-assamese-english-vinglish/

Read More

Budding filmmaker ‘pedals’ into crowdfunding for The Bicycle

Abdul Gani

Guwahati: After an invitation to the prestigious Producers’ Lab organised by the Cinemart International Film Festival of Rotterdam 2012, budding Assamese filmmaker Khanjan Kishore Nath’s project, The Bicycle, has been selected for Mumbai Mantra Screenplay Lab now. It is the first Assamese film to be invited to Rotterdam Festival.

Khanjan Kishore Nath

The filmmaker is now waiting for crowdfunding for production. It was also selected for Goa Film Bazaar organised by the International Film Festival of India.

“This film is now at its pre-production stage. The script is complete. All that it needs is financial help. Unfortunately, we have not been able to collect funds as yet. Now, we have applied to various global film funding bodies and waiting for their response,” director Nath told Seven Sisters Post.

According to this concept, anybody providing a little amount of money will be eligible to become a co-producer of the film. This concept is quite new in India, and no one has tried it in in Assam so far.

“In crowdfunding, a film may have 1,000 producers. We are trying to do something new in Assamese film industry. For my film, anybody who is interested can be a co-producer of the project by paying a sum of Rs5,000. The profits and responsibility will be shared by all the parties involved,” he said.

However, so far, he has not been lucky enough to get the required funds of around Rs50 lakh for the film.

“As it is a new concept for us, people are not aware of this. The positive side of this move is that it is now selected for Mumbai Mantra Script Lab Collaboration with Sundance Institute for the first round. Let’s see what happens in next round,” Nath, who has made several short films prior to this, said.

The spirited filmmaker is also hopeful of releasing the film globally. “When I was in Goa with my project a lot of foreign distributors and sales agents showed interest towards my project. If everything goes well, I’m hopeful of releasing it abroad. We should now think beyond our geographical existence. I strongly believe that we can win the world through our regional language films if we have a good story in hand, because there is a huge market outside and they are looking for good films, not language,” he added.

A diehard fan of Iranian way of filmmaking, Nath said that if the story is told in creative and sensitive way the global viewers could be won.

“Through my film, I am trying to do the same. My story is also very simple yet interesting. The story telling is simple with rich visual verities. Through this film, I am going to give a new experience to the Assamese film history. I would like to prove that if you have a good story with good script, language is not a bar to conquer the world,” he added.

It is a story about childhood desires, dream and relationship among children, but the director feels that it would work on the minds of adults as well. (Seven Sisters Post)

http://sevensisterspost.com/budding-filmmaker-pedals-crowdfunding-bicycle/

Read More

Tagore National Fellowship for Prof Bhagabati

Abdul Gani

Guwahati: Noted anthropologist AC Bhagabati, who has been conferred on Tagore National Fellowship for cultural research, stressed the importance of traditional perceptions of land records to find out causes of ethnic clashes. He also said that studying history helps understand modern problem better.

Professor A C Bhagabati (left). Credit: Seven Sisters Post

“There is a mismatch of data between modern tools of demography and traditional perceptions of land records. In Bodo people’s perception it has been tribal land, but now we say it is not their land. So, the problem lies there. One has to look at the records to see to what extent the Bodos or the other people are right. Only records can tell that,” said the former professor of Anthropology at Gauhati and Dibrugarh University.

He also said that modern tools like census to find out the demography may not always solve such problems. “If we go back to 1945 or 1960 we will know whether land alienation by whatever means has taken place. That’s how history helps understand an even modern problem. But what we are doing is that using the demography of today to counter a historical question,” Bhagabati added.

The veteran anthropologist was felicitated by the North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC) for receiving the prestigious Tagore National Fellowship of Cultural Research.

The objective of the scheme, which was introduced by the Union ministry of culture in 2009, is to invigorate and revitalise various cultural institutions which have vast treasures in the form of manuscripts, documents, artefacts, antiquities and paintings.

The purpose is to encourage serious researches in the cultural resources of these institutions. Schemes like this would encourage research, scholarship and analysis of the objects that are not usually available for public viewing or use. Museums, for instance, can hardly display more than a small percentage of their entire holdings.

“We are happy to announce that Dr AC Bhagabati has been awarded by the ministry of culture the Tagore National Fellowship for Cultural research to pursue his research at NEZCC. He is the only scholar from the region to have won this fellowship,” said NEZCC director Som Kamei.

Professor Bhagabati, who was also the vice chancellor of Arunachal University, is currently working as the honorary coordinator of North East Regional Centre of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. During his tenure of fellowship at NEZCC, Professor Bhagabati will undertake research on the project entitled ‘Inter-cultural relations among indigenous communities of North East India: Historical and contemporary dimensions and lessons for the future’. (Seven Sisters Post)

Read More

NSD joins hands with Sankardeva group for social harmony cause

Abdul Gani

Guwahati: The teachings of 15th-century saint-philosopher Sankardeva — espousing religious tolerance and social harmony —could just be the answer to the paranoia gripping the nation.

A Guwahati-based nongovernmental organisation (NGO) in association with Assam Association and support from Assam government and Union ministry of culture is organising an awareness event on the message of the saint-reformer at the Kamini Auditorium in New Delhi on September 13.

Srimanta Sankaradeva Movement Delhi Initiative, the title of the event, is being organised by Trend MMS, a socio-cultural group based in Guwahati. The programme will comprise a presentation on Sankaradeva followed by an hour-long thematic performance of a dance-drama, “Chordhora Jhumura”.

The National School of Drama (NSD) is providing technical input for the programme. “The event has been conceptualised to highlight the teachings of Sankardeva and the inherent universal brotherhood as well as displaying the rich cultural movement during his age that still is the soul of Assamese culture,” said Shyam Kanu Mahanta, a member of the organising panel.

National celebrities too have involved themselves in this noble mission. Noted act or Victor Banerjee will be a part of the event. He will be seen anchoring the whole event.

“We are happy to have Banerjee in our mission. He will also be our ambassador in the event. He spent his entire childhood in Moran in Assam, studied at Kanoi College, Dibrugarh and made it big in Tollywood, 

Bollywood and acted in international movies,” Mahanta said.

Besides, acclaimed filmmaker Jahnu Barua too would be involved in spreadi ng the movement to popularise Sankaradeva at the national level.

“Our aim is to make people aware of the great teachings and rich cultural heritage of Assam initiated way back in the 15th century. We are also looking to build a bridge in terms of cultural integration with the people from other parts of the country,” he said.

“Jhumura”, a unique style of drama was introduced by Madhavdeva, the most prominent and devoted disciple of Sankardeva in order to preach and popularise the tenets of Vaishnavism among the masses.

“His literary and artistic contributions are living traditions in Assam today. The religion he preached is practiced by a large population, and Sattras (monasteries) that he and his followers established continue to flourish and sustain his legacy. In reference to his personality, teachings and oeuvre, he is a Mahapurusha, or ‘Great Man’. 

He propagated a casteless society and bringing people from different castes and religions as a part of his team. We hope this initiative will help us in spreading his message to wider section of people,” Mahanta further said. (Seven Sisters Post)

Read More

Assam youth unveils movie venture: Kaafiron Ki Namaaz

Abdul Gani

Guwahati: For a state that has always taken its cinema seriously, Assam youth Bhargav Saikia’s full-length Hindi feature film, Kaafiron Ki Namaaz, is all set to create ripples on the national map.

A still from the film.

Having just completed his shooting at the Jyoti Chitraban film studio in Guwahati, Saikia is now ready to unveil his maiden creation to the movie-lovers of the country and beyond. “We are relieved to a great extent as we have successfully finished the whole shooting process. After the post-production procedure, we will be able to offer the film to our viewers,” Saikia told Seven Sisters Post. Kaafiron Ki Namaaz is an independent feature film in Hindi written and directed by Ram Ramesh Sharma.

The story is set in Kashmir and it takes place over the course of one night when a writer from West Bengal comes to interview an army man somewhere on the outskirts of Srinagar. There, they are joined by a bandwala (a musician).

The unit after their shooting at Jyoti Chitraban

“The central theme of the film is ‘confession’ and, keeping this in mind, the three characters pour their hearts out, including some dark secrets, and become pacified in their own spaces as the film moves forward,” said the movie’s director, Ram Ramesh Sharma, who hails from Faridabad in Haryana.

Saikia was born and brought up in Assam before he moved to Mumbai to pursue film studies at the Whistling Woods International Institute, a film, television and media arts school located in Mumbai and promoted by well-known filmmaker Subhash Ghai. Kaafiron Ki Namaaz happens to be the first project of Saikia’s production company, Lorien Motion Pictures. “We are quite positive about the movie’s success, as all of us are young and energetic, and are hungry to do something creative,” he said.

Renowned theatre personalities from Bhopal, Chandrahas Tiwari, Megh Varn Pant and Alok Chaturvedi, play pivotal roles in the film. Tiwari and Pant were last seen in films like Shanghai, Dum Maaro Dum and My Friend Pinto.

Producer Bhargav Saikia (extreme right) and director Ram Ramesh Sharma (extreme left) with Sukhwinder Singh 

The music of the two-hour film has been scored by Advait Nemlekar, with popular singers like Sukhwinder Singh, Usha Uthup, Javed Ali, Najim Arshad and Kshitij Tarey having lent their voices to the movie.

“We are thankful to these artistes for their cooperation. Sukhwinder Singh has been very kind enough as he did not charge a single penny from us. We are planning to release the music album later this year,” Saikia added.

Besides Jyoti Chitraban, several scenes have been shot at the beautiful locales of Jammu & Kashmir during March this year.

“Art director Jyoti Sankar Bhattacharyya from Assam has designed and created the set brilliantly here at Jyoti Chitraban. Outdoor sequences o f the film were shot widely across Kashmir,” he said.

Saikia and his team are now eyeing major international film festivals before releasing the movie in India sometime later this year. (Seven Sisters Post)

Read More

Saint and Sensibility: Animation on Sankardeva

Abdul Gani

Guwahati: In order to showcase Assam’s great 15th-century saint, Sankardeva, in a lively and spirited way, filmmaker Sanjeev Narain and his company have launched a project Sarbagunakara Srimanta Shankardeva, an animation film on the saint’s life and teachings.

The 90-minute feature will be the first-ever Assamese animated film since Jyotiprasad Agarwala came with his path-breaking ‘Joymati’ in 1935. “I always want to do something new in my life. This project came to my mind some five years back, but today I’m the happiest man to be able to declare that we are making the first-ever animated Assamese feature film, and that too, on Sankardeva,” said Sanjeev Narain, producer of the film.

A portrait of Shankardeva. Photo:  indianetzone.com

The film is being made to market it internationally with the latest technology. “Kolkata-based Kaleidoscope is looking after the technical aspects. We will dub the film in English, Hindi and Bengali for the global market,” he added. Around 140 people have already started working round the clock to finish the film in next six months.

National award-winning filmmaker Manju Bora is directing the film. “I congratulate Sanjeev for his initiative to make such a film. When he proposed the idea, I straightway said yes, and since then that thought kept knocking my mind,” said Bora, whose Akashitarar Kathare won the best regional film award in 2003. 

She is enthusiastic with the plot, and has vowed to do justice to the theme. “I really like the idea and feel proud to be a part of the project. It’s not possible to cover the complete life of the saint in just 90 minutes, but I have tried my best to do justice to the subject,” she added. 

The music of the film is being looked after by talented Tarali Sharma. 

The history of animation is almost a century old. El Apóstol (The Apostle), an Argentine animated film utilising cut-out animation in 1917, is regarded as the world’s first animated feature film. It was written and directed by Quirino Cristiani. It consisted of a total of 58,000 frames played over the course of 70 minutes at 14 frames per second.

In India, animation came much later in 1974 when the Films Division of India released Ek Anek Aur Ekta (one, many, and unity). It is a traditionally-animated short educational film which was telecast on the Doordarshan.

Of late, this genre of film has gained much popularity across the globe with films like Ice Age, Finding Nemo, Lion King, Shrek, Happy Feet, Kungfu Panda, Hercules, Madagascar etc, have posed a tough challenge to other films. This has fancied the imagination of kids and adults alike. Indian viewers also have their own versions of animation films like Hanuman, Krishna, Return of Hanuman, Roadside Romeo, Bal Ganesh, Arjuna: The Warrior Prince, Delhi Safari, etc, to name a few.

However, critics feel that India has still miles to go to compete with their Hollywood counterparts in so far as the quality of such films is concerned. “Animation as a genre of films is yet to be evolved fully in India, though we have had stray hits like Hanuman. 

The problem with animation filmmaking is that it’s highly expensive if one wants to do it visually appealing up to the level of what we see in international films, be it in Hollywood or in Japan,” New Delhibased film critic Utpal Borpujari told Seven Sisters Post. But there is a positive atmosphere to bring a change in this regard.

“And the audiences have access to superb animation films like Madagascar. Indian films are also evolving in quality, and the recent Arjuna: The Warrior Prince is a good example. Nikhil Advani’s Delhi Safari also seems to have quality animation going by its promo, and so does Govind Nihalani’s Kamlu,” the national award winning film critic added.

However, Borpujari, who was a jury member in several international film festivals, is hopeful of the project. “Srimanta Sankardev is definitely a great subject for animation. What’s important is that this subject has to be treated with high-quality animation and interesting treatment to woo the international market. I hope this project has the required budget to scale that height,” he said. (Seven Sisters Post)

Read More