Rupanjali Konwar (top) and Nipon Goswami in the film Sati Radhika

Assam has a healthy trend of feature and documentary films. But the trend of short feature films is yet to take shape in the state.

Several Assamese feature films have won national recognition and documentary filmmakers such as Dulal Saikia, Chandranarayan Barua, Gautam Bora, Hemanta Das, Prabin Hazarika and Chandrakamal Hazarika have also made their mark at the national level with haunting cinematic pieces like Wheels and Horizons, Land Where Bamboo Blows Free, Sons of Abotani: The Misings, Circle of Shambles, Drummers of Koihati, Daughter of Elephant and Jyoti Prasad: A Versatile Genius.

But the 67-year-old tradition of Assamese cinema has not witnessed a healthy trend in short feature films and that is where Sati Radhika stands as a rare exception.

The Central Board of Film Certification states that films dealing with fiction must be of above 70-minute duration to attain the stature of feature films. Those shorter are categorised as short feature.

This 58-minute short feature film deals with a simple storyline concerning great saint Srimanta Sankardev’s efforts to eradicate age-old superstition and casteism in society. Apart from being a genius in creative literature, performing arts and religious concept, Srimanta Sankardev was a great social reformist and the film Sati Radhika is a glowing tribute to this particular aspect of the great saint.

The storyline depicts a small incident relating to Sankardev’s interaction with the common man at his famous Bordowa Satra — a Vaishnavite shrine.

One day, on being informed by the villagers about the impending danger to the paddy fields, orchards and households by floods, Sankardev advises them to construct a dyke on the stream Tembuoni — the main route of the flood waters. But the villagers fail to construct the dyke there. Then Sankardev asks them to find out a sati (a woman of pure sacred soul) who would pour water into the stream thrice with the bamboo-made fishing trap which would ensure proper construction of the dyke. This creates a sort of competition among the women of that locality to prove themselves a sati. But while all women, including those of the higher castes like Brahmanas and Kayasthas, fail in the test, Radhika, who belongs to the fishermen community — the lowest in the caste hierarchy, succeeds in pouring water in the stream with the bamboo-made fishing trap which is full of big holes. In this way an ordinary woman becomes a sati. In fact, Sankardev used his entrepreneurial powers to show the masses that no human being was superior just on the basis of his or her birth in an upper caste family. The only determining factor is the quality of job that he or she performs.

Sankardev’s role has been enacted by seasoned actor Nipon Goswami. The film has a huge cast comprising senior artists like Abdul Majid, Indra Bania, Dinesh Das and Jayanta Bhagabati. Another interesting aspect of this beautiful film is the music by Bhupen Hazarika. The film has two songs and both have been penned by director/producer Anjali Das. Hazarika’s tunes in his immaculate style add attraction to the film.

The short feature film is the maiden venture of Anjali Das and her husband Rajani Das who is the film’s co-producer. The Assamese film scenario can easily expect some more cinematic works from this couple.

Rong Sarmah