Chief minister Tarun Gogoi inaugurates the light and sound show on Thursday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Nov. 4: The glorious heritage of Assam, conjuring up magic with shadows and sounds, in the heart of Guwahati. And the Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra today kept its date with history at the launch of its son et lumiere project.

Chief minister Tarun Gogoi today inaugurated the state?s first sound-and-light show at the city?s nerve-centre of cultural excellence.

The audience, comprising celebrities and senior ministers, watched enthralled while seated on the roof of the Sangeet Natak Akademi building at the Kalakshetra.

State tourism minister Misbahul Islam Laskar, planning and development minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, artist Shobha Brahma and dramatist Arun Sharma were also present.

The show, titled Assam ? Throughout The Ages, was staged at a cost of at least Rs 1 crore. A brainchild of national award-winning filmmaker Bhabendranath Saikia, the Assam Tourism Development Corporation is implementing the project in collaboration with the Kalakshetra Society.

The mise en scene comprised artificial sets and props that showcase the Assamese cultural heritage. The light beams and sound waves were focussed on miniature models of ancient monuments and other emblems at a hillock sprawled over eight bighas.

?The show is being positioned at an ideal spot. The audience would be able to get a bird?s eye view of the beautiful narrative as it unfolds amid drama and music. We hope to attract more tourists with this latest addition,? said an organiser of the show.

Ramen Choudhury has composed the music for the 42-minute show. Calcutta-based light director Tapas Sen has guided the project.

National award-winning art director Nuruddin Ahmed has beautifully sculpted the miniature models. He has created over 13 models of the Kareng Ghar, Kamakhya Gate, a tea garden, and sutradhars (narrators) with concrete, fibreglass and marble dust.

Two shows will be held, one in Assamese and the other in English, every day of the week. ?We will charge Rs 30 from adults while children?s tickets would be priced at Rs 20,? added the official.

Spread over a sprawling campus of 10.28 hectares in the Panjabari area of the city, the Kalakshetra has emerged as one of the main tourist spots in the state.

It already boasts of a cultural museum, a heritage park and an artists? village.