Actors Raj Zutshi (left) and Nakul Vaid in a still from Ekhon Nedekha Nodir Xipaare

Sept. 14: Assamese film Ekhon Nedekha Nodir Xipaare, which triggered a controversy after the jury of the 59th National Awards disqualified it as the state’s representative in the regional films category, was released today.

The film is about a Mumbai-based journalist, Abhijit, who comes to Majuli to seek the reason behind his friend, Sridhar Ranjan’s death.

Sridhar set up a social organisation in Majuli but was killed. Incidentally, Abhijit’s guide in Majuli, Sudakshina, happened to be Sridhar’s guide as well.

On the island, he finds everybody unwilling to talk about Sridhar, including Sudakshina.

One day, rebels pick up Abhijit, on suspicion of his being a RAW agent. Convinced that he is not, they ask him to leave the next day.

However, Abhijit stays back to meet the militants who kidnapped him the previous day, changing his decision after some revelations regarding Sudakshina’s life.

With Sudakshina’s help, he meets Jayanta Doley, a former rebel, who after several requests takes him to the militants, her brother being among them.

When Jayanta and Abhijit go to meet the militants, Sudakshina accompanies them.

However, the police come to know of the plan and when the militants arrive, an encounter takes place and Jayanta is killed.

Produced by the National Film Development Corporation and directed by award-winning documentary filmmaker Bidyut Kotoky, the film was released through UFO movies, across multiple theatres in the state by Goenka Enterprises.

With Bollywood actor Sanjay Suri in the lead (Abhijit) and Bidita Bag (Sudakshina), the cast includes veteran actor Victor Banerjee, Raj Zutshi, Nakul Vaid, Naved Aslam, Zubeen Garg and Bollywood actress Preeti Jhangiani.

While Madhu Ambat is the cinematographer, Zubeen Garg is the music director of the film.

Bhupen Hazarika himself had recited the film’s title poem.

“The story and the gracefully blending music, with the unique culture and beautiful surroundings of Assam throughout the film set in the world's biggest inhabited river island of Majuli, will surely keep the audiences engaged till the end,” Kotoky said.