Sheer hypocrisy

The attempt to revive the Assamese cinema industry by musical maestro Zubeen Garg is a welcome move, persuading people to come to theatres to watch his mega budget Assamese movie and extend their wholehearted support for the cause of Assamese films.

 But, what is frustrating is the fact that the so-called custodian of Assamese film industry and culture is the same person who in April last abruptly ended a Bihu performance hurling slang abuse, just because the organisers requested the singer to perform in indigenous language. Rightly speaking, the purpose of organising Bihu stage functions is to preserve the language and culture of Assam. A few decades ago, when the idea of stage performances first surfaced in Guwahati, many stalwarts of that period of Assamese society initiated and welcomed it. 

The singer must set aside his ego and think ratiolly and realise how he would react if a person would not like to watch an Assamese movie but would prefer to watch Bollywood or Hollywood movies instead, or if the film distribution companies or movie theatre owners would not prefer to screen Assamese movies.

Nupur Das,

Dispur, Assam