Assamese Film Day observed

Guwhati, March 29: The first Assamese film Joymoti, produced by Rupkonwar Jyotiprasad Agarwala was screened on March 20, 1935 at the Kamrup tya Samiti auditorium (now known as Kumar Bhaskar tya Mandir) at Guwahati, stated a press release. To commemorate the occasion, Kamrup taya Samiti, Dr Bhupen Hazarika Foundation (BHF) and Pragjyoti Communications organized the first ever Assamese Cinema Day at the Bishnu Nirmala Auditorium here. The centery of the Kamarup tya Samiti (1912) was also celebrated on the occasion.

Several artists and writers were felicitated on the occasion. Kheerada Kumari Barua, wife of late Prashuram Barua who had played the role of Gadapani in Joymoti , recalled the struggle associated with Joymoti. She recalled how Jyotiprasad had faced immense difficulties while making the film.

She also lamented that Aideu Handique, playing the protagonist in Joymoti, who had faced tremendous social stigma for acting in the film was never given due recognition by the government or various organizations.  Eminent columnist Dilip Kumar Hazarika recalled the thrill of watching Joymoti for the first time. The chief convenor of Kamrup tya Samiti, Dhirendrath Barua recalled the first screening of Joymoti and how women from Uzan Bajar, Latashil and other localities came in large numbers to watch the film. Jyotiprasad Agarwala’s daughter Satayashri Das, Dr. Bhupen Hazarika’s sister Kabita Barua, brother Samar Hazarika, BHF President and eminent educationist Dr Kulendu Pathak,  Bimal Medhi of Kamrup tya Samiti, eminent actor Nipon Goswami, Sadhan Hazarika, music director Ramen Barua, author Rabendra Kumar Das and Dr Roman Sharma among others were present on the occasion. ‘Jyoti Prapat’ , the memorial volume on Jyoti Prasad edited by BHF secretary Dipanka Hazarika was released by Satyashri Das.

In the evening the film ‘Rupkownwar Jyotiprasad Agarwal Aru Joymoti’, by Dr. Bhupen Hazarika was screened. An all Assam quiz competition on ‘Jyotiprasad and Joymoti ‘ was conducted by quiz master bakanta Baishya. More than 20 teams from all over Assam participated in the competition. The teams comprising of Bijit Das and Dhrubvajyoti Barman from lbari College, Debashish Dutta and Nilotpal Goswami, Abdul Momin and Derajuddin Ahmed won first, second and third prizes respectively. The winners were awarded with cash prize, certificate and books. The day long programme was moderated by eminent cultural activist, book editor and secretary of the BHF, Dipanka Hazarika. It was also decided that March 20 will be celebrated as Assamese Film Day every year.