(From left) Filmmaker Aribam Syam Sarma, director Jahnu Barua and author Atulananda Goswami at the launch of a book, Should North East Cinema Exist. Picture by Eastern Projections

Dec 25: Internationally acclaimed filmmaker from Manipur, Aribam Syam Sarma, is considered to have defined the growth and development of cinema of the region for years. And his visit to any place is nothing short of a celebration for both students of cinema and cinebuffs, who have always been enlightened by interacting with this stalwart of world cinema.

The winner of 11 national film awards, Sarma’s two-day whirlpool visit to the city came to an end today with the screening of Ishanau (The Chosen One) at the Jyoti Chitraban Film Studio auditorium, Kahilipara.

The pathbreaking film was the official entry to the Cannes Film Festival in 1991. It was one of the few films from India and the only film from the region to find an entry into the prestigious festival.

The film was screened by the Gauhati Cine Club as part of its programme to acquaint the cinebuffs with the best of Sarma and Kanak Chandra Kalita, the club secretary, said. Along with a host of city-based filmmakers, actors and technicians who attended the screening, students of cinema also got the chance to watch the movie along with the director himself.

Sarma also unveiled his autobiography Living Shadow — at the city’s Lakhiram Barua Sadan yesterday. The function was attended by another giant of Northeast cinema, Jahnu Barua, and award-winning film critic Apurba Sarma.

The Northeast Film and TV Producers’ and Directors’ Association today felicitated Sarma, along with Assamese author Atulananda Goswami, the winner of the Sahitya Akademi Award. However, the man who is at the centre of attraction for all cine fans is quite unfazed by all attention and accolades showered on him. “It is my pleasure to meet so many film enthusiasts and talented filmmakers together in a short period of two days.

“The city, the hub of entire Northeast cinema, has always been a breeding ground for good ideas and cinema. I have always been inspired by the city and its people to make more and more good films,” said the soft-spoken director.