Actor Abdul Mazid announces the revival of Sur Bahini in Guwahati on Friday. Picture by Biju Boro

Guwahati, July 23: Decades ago, the devastation caused by floods evoked a timeless masterpiece from singer-composer Jayanta Hazarika, “Luitor boliya baan/toi koloi-nu dhapoli meliso…? (Crazy floods of the Brahmaputra/ where do you want to go...?).”

The song was also the centrepiece of a movement launched by the late artiste through a music brigade named Sur Bahini, which moved from place to place mobilising relief for the flood-hit people in cash and kind.

Over 20 years later, Hazarika’s wife Manisha and the state’s film fraternity have revived Sur Bahini and launched a campaign to collect aid for flood victims. The announcement was made at a news conference here today.

Manisha, who was a member of the original Sur Bahini, said artistes could not remain aloof in times of crises. “The people reeling under the impact of floods are our patrons. They are the ones who listen to our songs and watch our movies,” she said on behalf of the showbiz fraternity.

“We will try to draw attention (to the woes of those affected by the current wave of floods) through songs,” the singer added.

Actor-director Abdul Mazid said Sur Bahini would begin its journey from Guwahati. “We appeal to people who want to help to keep their contributions ready. Whatever they want to give is welcome, in cash or kind. If the residents of a particular place keep their contributions ready, it will be convenient for us to go there and collect these.”

Recalling the experience of accompanying her husband on a three-day tour of the flood-affected areas atop a truck, Manisha said: “Singer Mahananda Mazinder Baruah was with us, and we used to sing songs and call upon the people to be more sensitive to the needs of flood victims.”

Actor Biju Phukan said the film fraternity intended to form a pressure group to force Delhi to declare floods a national problem.

Filmmaker Bani Das echoed him. “We want to start a movement wherein each individual feels the moral responsibility to help those in need. Artistes are close to people’s hearts and, hopefully, we will be able to strike the right emotional chord.”

Another filmmaker, Ashok Kumar Bishoya, said: “We are planning to travel to several flood-affected areas, including Nagaon and the Upper Assam districts of Sivasagar and Dibrugarh.”

From July 29 to 31, artistes will walk the streets of Guwahati, singing Hazarika’s tunes.

“This is just the beginning. We want to make Sur Bahini a strong platform for social work. Our objective is to help people across the country when natural disasters occur. We will also help artistes in distress,” Das said.