The latest Assamese release, Jibon Baator Logori, which hit the theatres early this month, is perhaps the right celluloid piece to end the commercial crisis the Assamese film industry is going through.

The film, produced by Phukan Konwar, Punananda Gogoi and Beauty Barua under the banner of Hills Motion Picture Association and scripted-directed by Timothy Das Hanse, has entertainment elements blended with a serious and socially relevant storyline.

The story is set against the backdrop of rural Assam. Protagonist Pabitra Barua, the principal of a village high school, is a man with high moral standards.

His twin children, Pritom and Torali, both brilliant and studious, leave for higher studies in Guwahati. But their proud father Pabitra and elated mother Prafulli can hardly imagine that their children have left them forever.

Dinanath Bora is a diligent farmer and his wife Nirmali a high school teacher. Their children Mohen and Malati are school dropouts. But the couple show them the way to shape their lives meaningfully.

Mohen gets a loan to buy a tractor and becomes a farmer. Malati forms a self-help group and sets up a big shop for home products.

Thus school dropouts Mohen and Malati achieve success by dint of sheer hard work.

In contrast, Pritom settles in Mumbai with his wife, the daughter of the top boss of a multinational corporation. Torali, too, pursues higher studies in the US, gets married to an American and settles there.

Their busy lifestyles prevent them from coming home even after their mother’s death and Pabitra spends the rest of his life in the company of his neighbours.

The film focuses on the chaotic education system as well as young generation becoming self-reliant by taking up agriculture or availing of benevolent schemes.

It carries a strong message for the younger generation — to preserve traditional values while accepting modernity.

Jibon Baator Logori carries an universal appeal. The script is dynamic if a little unimaginative.

The props, costumes, music — especially the songs and the choreography, the ambience of the outdoor locales and art direction inside the studio are almost flawless.

Director Hanse deserves kudos for presenting a technically sound film with a socially-relevant storyline. Acting, however, is the most impressive part of Jibon Baator Logori. The cast comprises Nipon Goswami, Bishnu Kharghoria, Moloya Goswami, Arun Nath, Beauty Barua, Dinesh Das, Atul Pachoni and Hiranya Deka, besides a batch of talented new generation actors like Raag Oinitom, Shyamontika, Kapil Bora, Asha Bordoloi and Pareenita.