Filmmaker Jahnu Barua is among those who have contributed to the book

May 17: Three years ago, when Polish ambassador Krzysztof Majka was in the city to attend the Polish Film Festival, he had expressed his desire to learn more about Assamese cinema.

But, Gauhati Cine Club, the organiser of the festival, failed to honour the request of the self-proclaimed film buff, as there was not a single book written in English that featured Assamese cinema in detail.

Almost three years later, the club has decided to come up with a book, which would feature various aspects of Assamese cinema since its inception, for film connoisseurs across the globe.

The club will also use the book, titled Assamese Cinema, which will have a collection of critical essays on the topic, to popularise Assamese cinema on the global podium. The book, at present, is being edited by film critic Manoj Borpujari and co-edited by Garima Kalita.

“The book was a long- felt need. For the past three years, we have been toying with the idea of publishing a book that covers Assamese cinema in detail. This book will cover various issues and aspects of Assamese cinema, including the crisis it is now undergoing. The book has been designed to reach out to the global market,” said Kanak Chandra Kalita, secretary of the club.

Some of the famous film critics of the country, including national award winner Utpal Borpujari, Ajit Dowerah, Manoj Borpujari, Altaf Mazid, Harekrishna Deka, Apurba Sarma, Garima Kalita and Bitupon Borbora have written articles for the collection.

“Sad, but true. In spite of having so many talented faces, the Assamese film industry, one of the oldest in the country, is dying a silent death. We need to discuss issues and problems plaguing the Assamese film industry and find suitable solutions to save it from extinction,” said Kalita. “The book is an attempt in this direction.”

The industry was born in 1935 with the film, Joymoti, made by the legendary Jyotiprasad Agarwala.

The club’s plans to publish the book also got a boost from the response received by Living Shadow, written by Manipuri filmmaker Aribam Syam Sarma and published by the club, from across the country.

“The book evoked quite a lot of interest, especially among film students and connoisseurs across the country. We have also sent a copy of the book to the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune,” said Kalita.

Established in 1965, the Gauhati Cine Club is doing pioneering work in spreading film culture in the city. It has many big names associated with it, including internationally acclaimed filmmaker Jahnu Barua, veteran theatre personality Kulada Kumar Bhattacharjee and film critic Abdul Mazid.

Besides organising festivals of world class films occasionally, the club also screens two movies every weekend at Lakshiram Baruah Sadan.