A poster of the film

Guwahati, June 30: For the first time an Assamese film will have a nationwide release.

Baandhon (Waves of Silence), directed by 11-time national award winner Jahnu Barua, will be released in seven cities across the country on Friday.

The 96-minute film will be released with English subtitles written by Barua himself under the banner of PVR Director’s Rare, in Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Chennai, Bangalore, Pune and Ahmedabad.

Barua described the news of the nationwide release as exciting. “It is the first time an Assamese film is being released nationally. It is exciting not only for me but also for the Assamese film industry and for people of the state. I am very happy,” he said.

The much-appreciated film was made with financial support from the Assam State Film (Finance and Development) Corporation Limited (ASFFDC).

Baandhon is the story of a Guwahati-based septuagenarian couple, Dandeswar and Hkawani, whose grandson, a student of IIT Mumbai, died in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. The film won the Best Feature Film in Assamese award at the 60th National Film Awards last year and awarded the Best Film in the Indian Films’ Competition at the Bengaluru International Film Festival for 2012. The cast of the film includes Jatin Bora, Bishnu Kharghoria, Bina Potongia and Zerifa Wahid.

PVR Director’s Rare has uploaded the official trailer of the film along with its release date on their official website.

The corporation chairperson, Bobbeeta Sharma, said the national release of Baandhon would give new hope to the Assamese film industry. “It is good news for all of us. It would also help the film financially. Even if we get something from its screening in these seven cities, it would encourage us in our future projects,” she said.

Film critic Utpal Datta said if the release becomes a success, it would open a new vista to regional films.

Sharma said Doordarshan recently announced it would give Rs 25 lakh to each of the national award-winning films besides telecasting them to make it possible for a large number of people to watch the films.

PVR Director’s Rare is an initiative of PVR Limited, one of the largest entertainment companies in the country, focused on showcasing “an exquisite undiscovered cinematic gem every week”.

PVR currently operates 360 screens in 86 cinema theatres in 36 cities across the country.

PVR Director’s Rare has released 28 critically acclaimed films which includes the re-release of the digitally restored version of Kundan Shah’s Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, Mira Nair’s debut feature film Salaam Bombay, Sai Paranjape’s Chashme Buddoor and India’s first collaborative feature film, The Last Act.