Feature Film
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Kaafiron Ki Namaaz
Producer Sunil Dutt surprised his audience in 1964 with his film, Yaadein, with only one character. A 24-year-old Assamese youth, Bhargav Saikia, is following in Dutt’s footsteps with his debut Hindi film, Kaafiron Ki Namaaz, featuring only three characters.
Bhargav, an alumnus of Subhash Ghai’s Whistling Woods International, set up his production house, Lorien Motion Picture, last year to make an entry into the Hindi film industry as a producer with the two-hour movie.
The film was shot in Jammu and Kashmir and Jyoti Chitraban Film Studio in Guwahati. It will hit the theatres by the end of this year.
“The film is a deliberation, confession and self-exploration of three characters — an army jawan, a Bandwala and a writer through conversation somewhere in Kashmir,” Ram Ramesh Sarma, the director of the movie, said.
“The plot of the film was, in fact, a version of one of my short films. Before venturing into making of feature film I loved to make short films,” said Ram.
The three characters are symbolic representing different
section of society: the army stands as the protector of society, the writer who gives voice to the people and the Bandwala represent the common people.
The director of the film said many shades of human character would come alive through the conversations of the three characters.
But what made Bhargav to debut into the Hindi film industry instead of Assamese?
“I have grown up with watching Hindi films. That is why when I think about filmmaking, Hindi film struck my mind first. Once I establish myself there, I will definitely look for Assamese film,” Bhargav said.
Both the director and the producer were very satisfied at the low costs in Jyoti Chitraban.
“The facilities here are very good. Here, rent of the studio was
Rs 2,000 a day, which would have been eight times in any other studio in Mumbai with this facility. Before coming to Assam I did not have idea about Jyoti Chitraban,” said Ram, hailing from Faridabad.
Mahaxomor
Assamese film industry is going the Bollywood way. Director Jones
Mahalia has engaged Arina Krevetsa of Ukraine for an item number in his upcoming movie, Mahaxomor.
Bobita Sarma has sung the item song, which is composed with lyrics by Depak Kumar Nath and Abhijeet Barman.
The film, a thriller, is on forest conservation.
Shooting of its three phases (from April to July) at various locations across the state, including Jyoti Chitraban Film Studio, is complete.
Produced by Hira Gohain under the banner of Tezpur-based Siddhartha Telefilms, the story, screenplay and dialogue are by actor Deepak Kumar Nath.
The cast includes Dinesh Das, Arun Hazarika, Atul Pasoni, Aimee Baruah, Ratul Das, Nirod Choudhury, Rita Mahaliya, Arun Nath, Jinu Barua, Bhupen Sarma and child artiste Nishanta Hazarika.
The final shooting in October will be done at Tezpur, Sootea, Silghat and Nameri.
The team will shoot two songs at Ranikhet in Uttarakhand, Almora, Shillong and Tawang.
Pranab Hazarika and Tolen Bordoloi are assistant director and assistant producer of the film.
Documentary
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Mayong Myth/Reality
Mayong Myth/Reality, a documentary, visually explores a land where magic was once a way of life.
There are hundreds of stories to tell from the Northeast, and Mayong is just one of them, says director Utpal Borpujari.
It is an effort to showcase the place, its people, and the legends associated with it before the world.
It also seeks to portray how individuals can play a role in preserving the heritage of a place - in this case, Lokendra Hazarika, a teacher in Mayong Higher Secondary School who has been documenting the various aspects of its magic for years.
The documentary aims at bringing Mayong’s story out to the world and help it realise its tourism potential as well.
Biswajit Changmai is the cinematographer, and Anurag Saikia the music director.
Saikia has combined ethnic and modern sounds to create a varied atmosphere in the film, which will be completed by September.
Producer Jayanta Goswami of Darpan Cine Production and director Utpal Borjupari will organise screenings in Guwahati and Mayong. It shall also be sent to various film festivals within and outside India.
The film begins with a series of interviews of young, and not so young, people in Guwahati, many of whom, as it was found, don’t know about Mayong or its location. They were interviewed on the day the last Harry Potter film released on July 15, 2011. Ironically, most of them knew the fictional world of Harry Potter well, but didn’t know anything about a place associated with magical practices just beyond their doorsteps.
The film has the structure of a travelogue and documents the history of tantric practice in Mayong and also the visible signs of magical practice, such as books of mantras, interviews with practitioners, and so on.
Audio album
Tomaloi Buli
An audio album of Assamese modern songs, Tomaloi Buli was released on August 12.
Though it’s a modern collection, three of the tracks are inspired by Puriya Dhanashree and Ahir Bhairav/ragas.
The eight songs of the album are Tomaloi mor monot pore, Xemeka xeetor rati, Kiyo pahorila, Tomar morome aji, Ebuku xosa morom, Kolija kolija, Poror ghorole and Schoolor protito pol.
Singers, Ankita Moral, Panchali Medhi, Jananta Juri and Gargi Hazarika have lent their voice, while Bishnu Sarma is the music director, lyricist and composer of the album. The recording was done at Studio Spectrum.
