Ekhon Nedekha Nodir Xipare: An honest attempt to tell the truth

Abdul Gani

Finally there is an honest attempt to deal with a subject which not many people here in Assam wish to talk about. Through the film ‘Ekhon Nedekha Nodir Xipare’, which released last week, debutant director Bidyut Kotoky has taken viewers to Majuli, the troubled island in the river Brahmaputra.

Over a course of 90 minutes, the director has convincingly portrayed the trauma of the people of Majuli, which once enjoyed the status of being the world’s largest river island. From flood erosion to insurgency, the inhabitants of Majuli have suffered a lot. Inspired by the ‘unfortunate’ incident of kidnap and murder of social activist Sanjay Ghose in 1997, a brave step has been taken to raise the issue once again by Kotoky.

It was a difficult task to make a host of Bollywood actors deliver dialogues in Assamese, but Kotoky managed to do it in a commendable manner. Sanjay Suri depicted the character of Abhijit, a journalist who comes from Mumbai in search of Sridhar Ranjan who has been missing in the island. Despite Suri being in the lead role, it’s Raj Zutshi who stole the limelight with his brilliant work. Zutshi played the role of Jayanta Doley, a surrendered militant turned peace activist.

Veteran actor Victor Banerjee as a strife-ridden grandfather was better than average. However, Abhijit’s guide Sudakshina, played by young Bidita Bag, needed a bit more effort to smoothen her Assamese accent. 

Otherwise, she looked natural as a village girl. Her brother Jyotiraj who is a part of the insurgent group, played by Nakul Vaid, and Naved Aslam, who played the character of Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Sameer Agarwal, were able to do justice to the characters.

Another big name associated with the film is four-time National Award-winning cinematographer Madhu Ambat, while sound recording was taken care of by Nakul Kamte, who has two National Awards under his belt. Rajesh Parmar, winner of two National Awards, was in charge of editing.

Music was given by Zubeen Garg. If you believe that cinema is more than a mere source of entertainment, ‘Ekhon Nedekha Nodir Xipare’ is a must-watch for you. (Seven Sisters Post)

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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/

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As the River Flows premieres at Osian Cinefan

Abdul Gani

Guwahati: After being at the centre of debates and discussions, Ekhon Nedekha Nadir Xipare (Assamese version of the film As the River Flows) premiered at Siri Fort Auditorium in New Delhi during the ongoing Osian’s Cinefan Film Festival on Sunday evening.

Before the film was screened, Bidyut Kotoky, the director of the film went through some anxious moments. “Really can’t say if I was nervous. Yes, definitely it was an anxious moment. Anxious with the prospect of experiencing my film for the first time with you… the audience for whom it is meant,” Kotoky told Seven Sisters Post.

A scene from the film As the River Flows.

The film revolves around the story of a journalist named Abhijit Shandilya who is caught in a multi-layered world of intriguing happenings in the largest inhabited river island in the world, Majuli, in Assam. “I hope everybody loved ‘her’. I would be heartbroken if they don’t. But not shattered. I will try to make a better film next time which can win your heart and soul. But I do believe this is a film straight from the heart,” he added.

The film which features Sanjay Suri, Victor Banerjee, Bidita Bag, Raj Zutshi, Nakul Vaid and several others was in the news after some jury members of the National Film Awards rejected it from the best regional film award citing the reason that it ‘was not an Assamese film’. The censor certificate, however, clearly mentioned it as an Assamese film. Sanjay Suri and Victor Banerjee were also present during the screening.

The 59th National Film Awards 2011 is governed by the National Film Awards Regulations. The Clause 7.3 of the regulations makes it mandatory that every film seeking nomination should be certified by Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

To obtain the mandatory certification, the film Ekhon Nedekha Nadir Xipare was sent for certification by Central Board of Film Certification. Accordingly the Central Board of Film Certification certified Ekhon Nedekha Nadir Xipare to be an Assamese movie in the U/A category.

Meanwhile, Enajori.com, took up the issue seriously and filed a PIL before the Delhi High Court, although the same was dismissed, on filing of a report by the Directorate of Film Festivals to the effect that the film was not rejected on the ground of it not being an Assamese film but it was actually rejected on the basis of merit. But several questions remained unanswered.

The jury of the 59th National Film Award flouted guidelines issued by Directorate of Film Festivals. Clause 1.3 of the guidelines issued by the Directorate of Film Festivals reads as follows: “The jury members shall maintain strict confidentiality regarding the deliberations/ recommendations in respect of awards to various categories.

In case of any violation by jury members, he/ she would be debarred for life from becoming a jury member in National Film Awards/ Indian Panorama/ International Film Festival of India.” 

But so far nothing has been done even after two jury members breached the norms and spoke to media about the rejection. Besides, another Assamese film Local Kung Fu — a comic martial arts film directed by Kenny Deori Basumatary was also screened during the film festival on Saturday. The film was made with a budget of just Rs 95,000.

According to the director and writer Kenny Basumatary, Local Kung Fu is possibly the cheapest martial arts comedy ever made. Kenny Basumatary also stars in the movie. The people liked it so much that the film was screened again on Sunday morning. (Seven Sisters Post)

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