Bidita Bag and Sanjay Suri in a still from As the River Flows

Calcutta, June 15: Majuli, the protagonist of numerous documentaries, is ready to debut with a substantial role in a full-length feature film.

Mumbai-based award-winning documentary maker Bidyut Kotoky has just finished shooting for his first feature film, As the River Flows, on the world’s largest riverine island and is hoping for an October release.

Produced by NFDC, the film revolves around a Mumbai-based journalist, played by Sanjay Suri, who reaches Majuli in search of a friend who disappeared from the island seven years ago.

If you smell a Sanjoy Ghose story here — the social worker who was whisked away by Ulfa rebels never to return — the similarity is purely coincidental, insists director Kotoky.

“I must make it clear that my film is not based on Ghose’s life. That has certainly been a source of inspiration, but the similarity ends there. I have even met Ghose’s wife personally and spoken to her about it just to make sure,” said Kotoky.

“My primary aim was to show the plight of the common people caught in the crossfire between government forces and the militants. I wished to tell the story of the simple villagers who get picked up and beaten simply because they happen to feed a hungry man — who later turned out to be a terrorist.”

The film will be dubbed in both Hindi and Assamese (Ekhon Nedekha Nadir Shipare being the Assamese title).

“I wanted to do a film on insurgency and it could be based on any place, be it Iran, Iraq or Kashmir.”

So why did he choose Majuli?

“Well, I fell in love with the place in the late nineties when I went there to shoot for a documentary. And besides, I felt with Majuli I could tell my story better since I have seen Assam’s insurgency up close,” said Kotoky, who is on his way to the Sunderbans in Bengal to shoot the devastation caused by cyclone Aila.

Filming in Majuli, of course, was the biggest challenge.

The entire shooting schedule was chased by the monsoon. Since Majuli remains under water for at least three months during rains, it was imperative that the entire filming ended before the rains began.

“And then, we were shooting in the pre-election time, at the end of March-April, which I knew was the not the best time,” said Kotoky.

With rudimentary facilities available on the island, the unit had a difficult time finding accommodation for the 100-odd people.

“While Sanjay Suri stayed at a satra guesthouse, the rest were accommodated in huts on stilts, which are anything but luxurious,” said assistant director Rajib Phukon.

Apart, from Suri, the main cast comprises Victor Banerjee, playing a Gandhian grandfather, Raj Zutshi in the role a Mising tribal and Bengali newcomer Bidita Bag, playing Banerjee’s granddaughter and Suri’s guide in Majuli.

“I was very lucky with my cast. I had no money to offer — I only had the story. And fortunately, all of them agreed,” said Kotoky.

But why was a Bengali girl made to play an Assamese?

“That’s the question Victor Banerjee asked me on the first day,” laughed Kotoky.

“Well, I was open to casting anyone who suited the role. Bidita, in fact, landed up in my office one day. She wanted the role so desperately that I thought she would give it her best shot,” he said.

The Bengali girl learnt Assamese for three months, listened to Bhupen Hazarika’s songs and even took lessons in Bihu dance.

Suri, who has shot in Assam before for Daman, was stunned by Majuli’s beauty and the villagers’ sense of propriety.

“It’s amazing how these people keep their village pristine and spotless and behave when they are around the filming site,” said Suri, who was drawn to the script since it addresses insurgency.

But how does the director hope to reach out to Majuli’s villagers once the film is released?

The river island does not have a single film theatre. Jorhat itself has only one left.

“We shall arrange for a projector or have a special DVD sent,” said assistant director Phukon.