Music director Ramen Baruah (left) and singer Pulak Banerjee pay a musical tribute to Brojen Baruah on Tuesday. Picture by S.H. Patgiri

June 27: He gave the Assamese film industry its most famous blockbuster. One of the greatest exponents of the “golden era” of the sixties and seventies, Brojen Baruah, was remembered today by his friends, family and admirers with what he loved best ? films and songs.

The music and film fraternity today paid glowing tributes to the filmmaker on his 34th death anniversary by resolving to restore the lost glory of Assamese films.

Baruah’s super-hit Assamese film, Dr Bezbaruah, was screened at the cultural evening organised to commemorate the day at the Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra this evening.

The star line-up in both the music and film world was impressive as actors and musicians turned up at the venue to pay floral tributes to the genius, who died at the age of 45.

Baruah’s younger brother and music director Ramen Baruah paid a musical tribute to his brother. It was followed by another musical programme titled Brojen Baruah’s Song, wherein popular singers Pulak Banerjee, Dwipen Baruah, Namita Goswami, Monjyotsna Mahanta and Asim Jyoti Baruah presented some of the finest numbers of Baruah, bringing back the memories of his musical contributions.

Kalakshetra’s purpose behind organising the cultural evening was to recall the contributions made by the “master of cinema” and to help Assamese film industry come out from its present state of stupor.

“Baruah was a master in the art of filmmaking. All his films hold one or other record in the Assamese film industry,” said Gautam Sharma, secretary of Kalakshetra. “At a time when the entire Assamese film industry is reeling under a severe crisis, we need to take inspiration from filmmakers like Baruah.”

Apart from directing five films, Baruah was also an illustrious music director, singer, lyricist, actor and scriptwriter. “A single man with all such talents is rare to find. But he worked very hard under severe conditions to make films during those days,” said Ramen.

“We have a lot to learn from him and his life. If we follow in his footsteps, we can once again sprinkle some hope on the dying Assamese film industry.”

Baruah had made his debut as a director with the first-ever Assamese comic flick Aetu Setu Bohutu in 1953. He then went on to direct four more movies, Dr Bezbaruah in 1969, Mukuta in 1970 and Lolita and Aupoja Sunor Mati in 1972.

Dr. Bezbaruah, which holds the record for being the most commercially successful Assamese film ever made, was also honoured with the best film (regional category) by National Film awards in 1969.

Baruah has given music direction to eight films, including Smritir Porokh, Aetu Setu Bohutu and Maak Auri Morom. He has also acted in hordes of Assamese films, leaving his impression as an “artiste in the true sense of the term”.

“He did everything in style and made everyone his fan,” said 70-year-old Nalini Gogoi, a self-proclaimed film buff.