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Gosh! This play started sans CM
This weekend, by the time Tarun Gogoi arrived at Pragjyoti auditorium for the staging of Naseeruddin Shah’s play Ismat Appa ke Naam, the drama was already half-an-hour through.
For a moment, Gogoi must have thought he had entered the wrong auditorium. Hundreds of eyes blinked in the darkness but not one turned to notice who had just arrived.
All eyes were glued on Shah, who sat on stage delivering his lines in his famed baritone.
The play was high point of the just-concluded 12th Natya Suryya drama fiesta in Guwahati. A slightly astonished Gogoi had no other option but to sit down quietly and watch the play.
His inaugural speech, too, remained in his pocket, unread. The speech can wait, probably for next time, provided chief minister manages to reach on time.
Now the popular Assamese actress is wooing cinebuffs of the state as well.
And the accolades have come from the critics too.
Baruah has won the best actress award from the Jharkhand Film Association for her debut film Pyar ka Khatir, which also had Bollywood actress Raima Sen.
“I was surprised when I received the news. Since I was not expecting the award, I did not even go to the awards function. I want to thank my director Ashok Chauhan for giving me such a powerful role,” Baruah said.
“Besides, it was a really pleasant surprise for me when fans in Ranchi addressed me as Chol Gori during the shooting of the film. I am happy that the album gave me a footing in the Jharkhand film industry,” said Aimee.
An equally elated director said, “She is a very talented actor and it was a delight for me to work with her. Moreover, she is totally committed towards her work and leaves no stone unturned to give her best.”
Baruah is now all set to begin her second film in Jharkhand, with Chauhan again. But this time the actor is planning to learn the language to make her role more convincing.
“The kadam tree is related to our religion and it has tremendous economic value. We are banking on this tree for earning an extra buck in the distant future. We have selected the auspicious saawan month for the plantation drive,” said K.N. Singh, senior manager of Heeleakha Tea Estate of the Scottish Assam (India) Limited, said.
The estate, which has around 631 hectares under tea plantation, has started planting 10,000 saplings of kadam tree in the vacant areas.
“We are hopeful that the tree will not let us down,” Singh said.
