A still from Shivam

Guwahati, April 17: Dr Bezbaruah, an evergreen Assamese film, is coming to a theatre near you in Hindi.

Shivam, the Hindi remake of this classic thriller, is set to hit the screens across the country next month retaining the theme and spirit of the original.

Directed by Brojen Barua, Dr Bezbaruah was released in 1969 marking the success of commercial ventures of the Assamese film industry and became a trendsetter.

Jogiraj Choudhury, producer of Shivam, said they have tried to be as true as possible to the original script with only a few peripheral changes keeping in mind the changes in time. “Shivam is based on the original screenplay written by Brojen Barua. However, some changes have been made considering the present day,” Choudhury said. He said the movie would be released on May 6.

“Our aim is to introduce the people of the country to Assamese cinema. The people of Assam accepted Dr Bezbaruah. I hope Shivam will succeed in other parts of India,” Choudhury said.

It was Dr Bezbaruah, which catapulted Brojen Barua into fame for his acting as a villain. Barua played the role of the main antagonist — Dr Bezbaruah — in the film and directing it, too. In Shivam, Mohit Chouhan will play the role of Dr Bezbaruah. Ramen Barua, who made his debut as music director in Dr Bezbaruah, has also composed the music for Shivam. Apart from keeping three songs from the original film, Barua has added two more melodious compositions to this new venture.

“There have been changes in the music considering its necessity. Those who have heard the songs have given positive comments on them,” Barua said.

Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik, Shaan, Mahalaxmi lyer and Rajyoti Konwar (from Assam) have lent their voices to the songs.

The film has been shot entirely in the Northeast with the director and cameramen taking full advantage of the beautiful locations of Shillong and Cherrapunjee to picturise the songs. Anshuman G. Barua has directed Shivam.

The story of the film revolves around protagonist Shivam, the adopted son of industrialist Yashwant Malhotra. When Malhotra’s friend, Dr Satyakam Choudhary, comes to know that Shivam is not the biological son of Malhotra, he starts blackmailing his friend for money and property. Choudhury even traces the whereabouts of Shivam’s biological family. Things get murkier and the story goes on.

Actor Nipon Goswami, who acted in Dr Bezbaruah, praised the step of making the film in Hindi.

“The film will let the people of other parts of the country that there are many beautiful places in Assam and the Northeast. This will encourage other directors to come here and shoot,” Goswami said.