Documentary on the Father of Karbi Nationalism – Semsonsing Ingti: Sight & Sound

Prantik Deka

Documentary on the Father of Karbi Nationalism – Semsonsing Ingti

An iconic figure of Karbi nationalism, Semsonsing Ingti devoted his entire life to the socio-cultural and economic awakening of his native land. It was his enduring obsession for reform, and thirst for social and economic progress that drove him to become a fervent activist and an author, whose corpus of works are worthy of serious engagement. He has, rightfully, been called the architect of the Karbi people or Karbi Society, for his work in uniting the Karbi indigenous population and rebuilding a prosperous Karbi Anglong. He fostered intense ethnic pride, and defined the social boundary of his people, which helped shape its destiny at a volatile period when significant tensions cropped up within his society. It was at a time when everything seemed a distant dream that was shaped by a fierce imagination of a people who were only faint outlines in the periphery of the emerging India. But despite his immense contributions, patriotic fervour and sacrifices, this iconic figure continue to remain an enigma to many. Its high time that his life and contributions are properly evaluated in the truest sense.

It was with this very intention that a new documentary, produced by the government of Assam's Department of Welfare of Plain Tribes & Backward Classes, and directed by filmmaker Munna Ahmed and Ananya Pachani, has now been made on the life and times of this towering personality. Titled 'Karbi Jananayak Semsonsing Ingti', the documentary was shot in a number of places in Karbi Anglong, including Diphu, Hamren, Tika Hills, Bokolia, Umswai, Umpanai, among others. Shooting was also conducted in several other places in the State that had been a congenial soil for Ingti for fostering his ideals and beliefs, including Nagaon's Puranigudam, Christianpatty, Golaghat, Guwahati, among others. The documentary will feature interviews with a number of noted personalities of the State, including eminent litterateur and former President of Asam Sahitya Sabha Rongbong Terang, who was once a close associate of Semsonsing Ingti. The screenplay has been prepared by Mrinmoy Baishya, Uday Bhaskar Patar and Hrishikesh Medhi, based on research works by DS Teron and Samir Deka. The camerawork has been done by Pranjit Kalita, Uday Bhaskar Patar and Hrishikesh Medhi. Edited by Dipjyoti Das, the commentary has been done by Pori Bora. The role of Semsonsing Ingti has been portrayed by Sangiri Ingti. The technical aspects of the film have been shouldered by SSD Media and Entertainment Private Limited.

Brahmaputra Valley Film Fest in Progress

Films, interactive sessions, quiz and more, movie buffs are savouring a feast at the sixth edition of the Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival which is currently in going on at the Pragjyoti ITA Centre. A number of noted personalities, including Boman Irani, filmmaker Shakun Batra and writer-director-producer Rajesh Mapuskar are attending the festival this year.

The main attraction is the exhibition of films from across the Northeast along with a few invited films from the rest of India. Interactive sessions, in addition to an exclusive film quiz- "Cinemascope", panel discussions and an award ceremony, are also being held.

A short film contest was organised as a part of the festival. It was open to filmmakers from the Northeast and for films shot in the Northeast or featuring stories from the region. Over 300 short films were received for the contest and out of all the entries, the top 15 will be screened at the film festival.

The top three winners will be awarded prizes of over Rs 2 lakh in addition to a trophy and certificate. The jury of the short film contest includes experienced filmmakers. The first round jury members are Bhaskar Hazarika from Assam, Meena Longjam from Manipur and Wanphrang Diengdoh from Meghalaya. The second round jury comprises Reema Kagti, Shiladitya Bora and Ronnie Lahiri.

Addressing the media, Tanushree Hazarika said that some of the finest films from the Northeast and rest of India are being screened at the festival over the course of four days. 'Nani Teri Morni' from Nagaland, 'Ralang Road' from Sikkim, 'Chor' from Assam and 'Bornodi Bhotiai' from Assam are some of the feature films screened at the festival.

'Spring Thunder', directed by Sriram Dalton was the opening film and Assamese film, 'Bornodi Bhotiai', directed by Anupam Kaushik Borah, is the closing film of the festival. Some of the feature films screened at the festival from rest of India are 'Devil', 'Rockumentary: Evolution of Indian Rock', 'The Lost Idea' and 'IYE : The Others'.

Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival has been honouring senior filmmakers of the region with a lifetime achievement award to honour their exceptional contribution to cinema in the Northeast.

In the previous years the award has been conferred on Aribam Syam Sharma (2014) from Manipur, Abdul Mazid (2015), Jnanada Kakoti (2016) and Munin Barua (2017). This year, the life time award will be conferred on Assamese director, Pulak Gogoi at the closing ceremony on December 1.

The Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival was conceived in the year 2013 with the objective of promoting Northeast cinema and providing a platform for regional filmmakers. The festival also aims to bring great storytellers under one roof, offering the audience a dynamic experience which combines cinema, short films, documentaries, interactive panel discussions and workshops.

The organising team of the festival includes Tanushree Hazarika, who is also the managing director of Tattva Creations; Karma S Paljor, journalist and entrepreneur; Roopa Barua, filmmaker; Pallavi Barua, producer and lawyer and Samujjal Kashyap, national award-winning filmmaker. Filmmakers Reema Kagti, the director of 'Talaash' and 'Gold', Ronnie Lahiri, the producer of 'October', 'Piku', 'Madras Café' and 'Pink', actor Adil Hussain and Shiladitya Bora, the producer of 'Your Truly', 'Newton' and 'Masaan' are the honorary advisors who have helped shape the festival.

3^rd Guwahati Theatre Festival Concludes

The third season of G Plus Guwahati Theatre Festival concluded recently with two plays – 'Foreign Bodies in the afternoon' and 'Stories in a Song' in the evening.

The festival which was held from the 16th to 18th of November also featured plays 'Laughter Therapy' featuring Mona Singh, Siddharth Merchant, Danesh Khambata, Danesh Irani, Sajeel Parakh, 'Detective 9-2-11' directed by Atul Kumar featuring renowned actors like Neil Bhoopalam and Sukant Goyel amongst others, 'Foreign Body', a solo show by Imogen Butler-Cole from London about hope, healing and forgiveness after sexual assault and 'Stories in a Song' directed by Sunil Shanbag.

The Life in the Theatre Award 2018 was posthumously awarded to Sukracharjya Rabha, who has made all of us proud by his distinguished work in numerous capacities. He was initiated in the field of theatre through workshops on theatre direction and design. He was on a mission to produce and direct theatre that was truly rooted in the local culture that sprang organically from local life, and founded Badungduppa, his own unique theatre group in 1998. He was conferred the Sangeet Natak Akademi's Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Award (2009) for theatre direction, the Aditya Bikram Birla Kala Kiran Puraskar (2010) from Sangeet Kala Kendra, Mumbai, the Pratima Barua Pandey Award (2010) by All Assam Students' Union and many more. Manas Rabha, who is closely associated with Badungduppa kalakendra, collected the award on his behalf.

After two successful years, this year Guwahati theatre Festival, which is now a cultural landmark of the city maintained its benchmarks and lived up to the audience's expectation with the acclaimed plays, storyline and artists line ups. The third edition also witnessed theatre workshops conducted by Namit Das and Atul Kumar for schools and college students respectively which was supported by North Eastern Council and Numaligarh Refinery Limited. "The third edition was curated with a sense to add variety of genres of plays which included comedy, thriller, musical, intense and sensitive subjects. The audience from the city is fast evolving to appreciate various forms of performing arts which the festival brings together from all over the world.", said Sunit Jain, Festival Chairman and Publisher of G Plus.

The Festival was initiated by G Plus in association with Ballantines, powered by The Assam Tribune and supported by Apollo Hospitals Guwahati, North East Small Finance Bank, XUV 500 from Mahindra & amp; Mahindra, Servo from Indian Oil, Assam Tourism, Round Table India and Outreach Advertising.

Assam Government to Produce Film on Srimanta Sankardev

The government of Assam will produce a film on the life and works of the 15th century saint-scholar Srimanta Sankardeva. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal directed the cultural affairs department to initiate steps for the purpose, an official release said recently. While reviewing the structural design of the proposed Srimanta Sankardev International Museum, Sonowal said that the social and religious reformer laid the foundation of a pluralistic Assamese society by bringing people of different ethnic groups together, adding that the museum would spread the message on universal values.