Anthology Film 'Ji Golpor Ses Nai' Screened: Sight & Sound

Prantik Deka

Anthology Film 'Ji Golpor Ses Nai' Screened

An Assamese anthology film, directed by three different filmmakers, centering around the common themes of existentialism and loneliness, was recently premiered at the Rudra Baruah auditorium in the Jyoti Chitraban (Film Studio), Guwahati, to enormous praise and appreciation. The film 'Ji Golpor Ses Nai' (never-ending stories), which is a collection of three short stories, tied to a single premise, engaged the packed audiences in each segment with equal intensity.

With Assam as the backdrop, one of the shorts is about the inexplicable influence of a person on another. 'Ardha Satya', directed by Prodyut Kumar Deka, is based on a tale written by Guy de Maupassant and has Pankaj Mahanta and Kalpana Kalita in the lead.

'Epitaph', the second short directed by Prasant Saikia, has Himangshu Prasad Das playing the protagonist. Adapted from one of the works of Sahitya Akademi award-winning Assamese author and journalist Homen Borgohain, the story delves deep into the life of struggling writer and his love life.

The third short, 'Prasnabudhok', is based on a story by French novelist Honore de Balzac. Directed by Utpal Datta, the film talks about the constant struggle for desired space between husband and wife.

Datta, an independent filmmaker, said loneliness is a fundamental part of human life. "Loneliness may seem an unusual topic for a film. It doesn't sound very dramatic, but it's a fundamental part of being human," he said.

Pointing out that Assamese cinema took 80 years to make an anthology, Datta said that 'Ji Golpor Ses Nai' has three different stories, tied together by one theme.

It has definitely breathed new life into Assam's moribund film industry.

The three shorts, produced by Pallabi Borah, Krishna Kalita and Namrata Datta, have used similar strategies to portray human emotions — diminishing long shots, recurring motifs and empty spaces.

'Sirikkathe', a Tamil production released in 1939, is considered to be the first anthology film in India.

'Champawati' Staged On The Occasion Of World Puppetry Day

It has been for years now that a traditional form of puppetry, commonly known as 'Putola Nach', has been providing an unique treat for people in the state, creating not just entertainment but also provoking thought. Thanks in large measure to the efforts of Binita Devi, Junior Fellowship Awardee from Ministry of Culture, Govt of India, puppetry has evolved, and experienced a renewed interest and growth in Assam. Devi, whose works have been presented at a range of theatres and festivals in the state and other parts of the country, is playing a key role in reviving people's interest in this ancient art form. She has been imparting training in puppetry to students from all over the State in various workshops and training programmes. It is to her credit that the demand for her puppetry creations has been growing, even in foreign shores. Her creations have even found appreciation from none other than the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. It has always been her abiding interest and aim to promote and create awareness of this vanishing art form.

On the occasion of World Puppetry Day, Surajit Academy, under the sponsorship of Sangeet Natak Akademi, presented Rasaraj Lakshminath Bezbaroa's 'Champawati' in the form of a puppet drama at the District Library in Guwahati, on March 21. The play, held in the memory of Ramesh Chandra Sarma, founder and chief assistant teacher of Gauhati University Adarsha High Secondary School, was written by Simanta Sarma and directed by Binita Devi. The music of the play, which involved shadow and stick puppets, was scored by Abhijit Barman. A song in the play – 'Hur hur bota charai..', wass beautifully sung by Adishna Rajbongshi. The various voices in the play were rendered by Binita Devi, Adishna Rajbongshi, Swapan Das, Gitima Das and Simanta Sarma. The puppets were manipulated by Hardik Sarma, Anita Devi, Simanta Sarma, Binita Devi, Hridayjyoti Das, Dhrubajyoti Kalita, Vivek Das, Anita Devi, Hemen Senapati and Gitima Das.

The cultural evening was inaugurated by Dr Amalendu Chakrabarty, Head of the Department of Bengali, Gauhati University, and graced by Manoj Baruah, Vice Chairman, Assam State Agriculture Marketing Board and filmmaker Sambhu Gupta as the guests of honour. On the occasion, a play - 'Putola Nachar Kahini', written and directed by Sambhu Gupta, and participated by the members of Surojit Academy, was also presented. The roles were enacted by Swapan Das, Binita Devi, Hemen Senapati, Hardik Sarma, Dhrubajyoti Kalita, Apolok Sarma and Hridayjyoti Das. The play's music was scored by Sarat Kalita and lighting was executed by Kanu.

Another Feather In Anurag Saikia's Cap

Assam's one of the most talented composers, Anurag Saikia, who's had an incredible run in 2018 with his scores for films like 'Karwaan', 'Mulk' and 'Highjack', and more lately with 'Tum Aaoge', recently collaborated with F.A.M.E'S - Macedonian Symphonic Orchestra, to create a live orchestra recording on Borgeets by saints Srimanta Sankardeva and Madhavdeva through Bohemia Junction Limited.

This is the first ever symphonic recording done from Assam in such a big scale. Saikia hopes that his creation will be appreciated world-over. Born and brought up in Assam, Saikia is one of the youngest composers to be awarded with the National Film Award for 'Best Non-Feature Film Music Direction' for the film 'Yugadrashta'. He has also received other prestigious awards such as Big Music award, Prag Cine award, Radio Gupshup award, etc.

F.A.M.E'S - Macedonian Symphonic Orchestra was founded in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia in 2009 that consists of the best orchestral musicians - the majority of whom have international experience in European and American orchestras. This orchestra has helped in creating scores for Bollywood musicians Vishal and Shekhar and world-famous composer A.R. Rahman. Bohemia Junction Limited is the exclusive representative of F.A.M.E'S, and their Macedonian Symphonic Orchestra for India.

Shibangi Ratna Baruah Conferred With Nritya Suravi Samman 2019

A noted Sattriya dancer of Assam, Shibangi Ratna Baruah was recently awarded the 'Nritya Suravi Samman 2019' by Padma Bhusan awardee Guru Saroja Vaidyanathan and Rishi Vashist, Director-in-Charge of CCRT, New Delhi, in the Purvai Smritii Sankalan Festival held at the Subhadra Auditorium, New Delhi. A disciple of eminent Sattriya dance exponent Ramkrishna Talukdar and internationally acclaimed Bharatnatyam exponent Guru Indira P.P. Bora, Shibangi Ratna Baruah is a graded artiste of Guwahati Doordarshan Kendra and an empanelled artiste of Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre in Sattriya dance. It has to be noted that the talented dancer was conferred with the highest award of Naveen Kalakar, the 'Bharat Nrithya Thilakam' at the Indian Classical dance festival - 'Jayadev Rastriya Samaroh', held last year at the Bhanja Kala Mandap in Bhubaneshwar.