'Xhoixobote Dhemalite' to hit screens on february 8: Sight & Sound

Prantik Deka

'Xhoixobote Dhemalite' to hit screens on february 8

After making a mark at several national and international film festivals, Bidyut Kotoky's 'Xoixobote Dhemalite', which won the best narrative feature in Erie International Film Festival, Pennsylvania, recently, is all set to hit the movie theatres across the state on February 8.

Set in the Assam in the violent period of the eighties, 'Xhoxobote Dhemalite' is a film about children growing up in violent places, witnessing brutality around them and how it affects them deeply, leaving an indelible mark on their growth.

The film stars Victor Banerjee, Nakul Vaid, Naved Aslam, Nipon Goswami, Nikumoni Barua and a bunch of young and energetic kids. It also marks the debut of actress and supermodel Dipannita Sharma in Assamese film. The film is about a generation which grew during the turbulent 80s in the state.

Among the several awards the movie won, it bagged the best screenplay award at Treasure Coast International Film Festival in Florida, where it had received nominations in five categories. A month before that, 'Xhoixobote Dhemalite' became the first Assamese film to be commercially released in the US. Besides, it won three awards, including that of best film, in the Love International Film Festival, Los Angeles. Apart from these, the other achievements worth mentioning include its selection in the Indian Panorama, IFFI (Goa) and the Best Foreign Language Film, Hollywood CineFest, LA.

The film had earlier received a limited release in Assam in January 2018, and now, director Bidyut Kotoky has decided to re-release the film in Assam. "We have been really appreciated and acclaimed in different parts of India and abroad. But the film is made on Assam and about our people. It really saddened me when we couldn't reach out to enough people here last time, due to circumstances beyond our control. So we decided for a re-release and expect our audience to support and help us in taking this journey forward."

The film is produced by India Stories - a Mumbai based production house, and co-produced by Bidyut's Dhruv Creative Productions and Kurmasana Kreates, a US based production house. Mukul Gogoi is associate producer of the film. When the film was struggling for the completion fund, a Dubai based philanthropist Jani Viswanath, convinced by the fact that this story needed to be told, came on board as an executive producer. She also pledged her earning from the film back to Assam via her NGO - Healing Lives.

Assamese film 'Jeevanor Batot' completes shoot

Several years back, a promising lad from Moranhat, captivated by the process of filmmaking, entered the world of movies as an assistant director, working with some of the most well-known directors like Nip Barua, Siva Prasad Thakur, Dara Ahmed, Bollywood's Mukul Dutta, among others. After working in films such as 'Antony Mur Naam', 'Aai Mur Janame Janame', 'Ghar Sanchar', 'Sun Moina', 'Mon Mandir', 'Madhuchanda' and 'O Chenai' in the eighties, he went on direct two popular video films - 'Jeevanor Rong' and 'Sikhamoni'. 'Sikhamoni', released in 2008, has been shown repeatedly on channels like 'Newslive', 'Rong', 'Ramdhenu' and 'Indradhanu'. After imbibing various narrative forms and techniques, Dhruba Jyoti Mohan turned his focus back to a story that had caught his attention, completing the shoot of his maiden Assamese film 'Jeevanor Batot' recently.

'Jeevanor Batot' is being produced by Naharkatia-based Dilip Buragohain under the banner of Kareng Cine Production. Buragohain, who was involved in the production of Dr Bhabendra Nath Saikia's 'Sandhyaraag', has also written the story of this commercial venture. The script and dialogue is written by Dhruba Jyoti Mohan himself. The film, set in a rural milieu, deals with the issue of the role of women in society, with a fair amount of romance, action, comedy and songs thrown in it. The film's cinematography is done by Shantanu Dutta, music scored by Aryan Krishna, choreography by Surajit Hatimuriya, make-up by Mainu Gogoi, costumes by Nitu Kachari, while the songs are rendered by Aryan Krishna and Malaika Krishti and action is directed by Shantanu Dutta and Pinkle Das.

The film will feature the evergreen song by Rudra Barua – 'Poka Dhanor Maje Maje Soru Soru Ali'. The film introduces a number of new faces. The various artistes in the film are Dilip Buragohain, Dhrubajyoti Phukan, Momi Changmai, Antara Bhagawati, Pinki Basumatary, Putul Neog, Ramai Saikia, Abhyarthana Dutta, Nikita Tanti, Khirod Barua, Pradip Kumar Deori, etc.

Bongeet Album 'BHODIYA LUITOR DHOL' RELEASED

'Jubatirtha' – an organization with several youths forming its core members, has been playing a vital role in the cultural arena of the State. The organization has stressed the need and willingness to collect, preserve, promote and foster old Assamese songs long vanished in the mist of years. With that view, Jubatirtha has taken up the challenging endeavour of collecting and preserving our traditional Bongeets for quite some time now. The architect of this genre, Bonkonwar Anandiram Das has played a vital role in popularizing Bongeet, which is a fusion of Bihu and other traditional tunes. The legendary lyricist has written well over a thousand Bongeets. Apart from singing these Bongeets himself, he was also actively involved in teaching several other interested artistes. One such fortunate person who learnt under his tutelage is Arabinda Pathak. Pathak, who had access to several of Bonkonwar's Bongeets, imbibed and grasped its finer nuances and intricacies, virtually dipping into a veritable treasure.

Munindra Kumar Saikia, noted singer and a member of Jubatirtha, is personally and passionately involved in preserving and promoting the tradition of Bongeet. He has learnt a number of Bongeets and their singing styles under the guidance of Arabinda Pathak. Pathak, who has always been concerned with regard with the future of Bongeet, was only too happy to allow Saikia to record some twenty-five selected Bongeets, with a view of preserving and promoting them for posterity's use. Recently, an audio album comprising of eight Bongeets titled 'Bhodiya Luitor Dhol', produced by Sanchita Saikia under the banner of C.D.S. Creation, was released amidst an august gathering at the Guwahati Press Club. The songs were beautifully rendered by Munindra Kumar Saikia and his better-half Dr Anamika Deka. Musically composed by noted musicians Manas Hazarika and Abhijit Barman, 'Bhodiya Luitor Dhol' contains a feast of musical delights like 'Sa O' Boliya', 'Pawe Sai Katila' and 'Nibinabi' among others, which is likely to touch the hearts of many listeners. The singer couple has exhibited their ample vocal range in their renditions, staying true to tradition.

The release function began with the lighting of the traditional lamp by Arabinda Pathak before the portrait of Bonkonwar. It was followed by speeches by noted guests – lyricist-tuner Dr Aparna Bujorbarua, Jubatirtha's Dr Mrinal Choudhury, noted music director Atul Medhi among others, who enlightened the audience about the contributions of Bonkonwar Anandiram Das. The album is also enriched by the contributions of several well-known musicians like Dilip Mazumdar, Simanta Barua, Tapan Das, Utpal Bora, Kailash Rabha, Pradip Deka and Gunin Sarma. As informed by Jubatirtha, the songs are currently available on YouTube.

Assamese film 'Bhaworiya' releases

Sanmilita Natya Gusthi, an amateur drama group of Mirza, has been performing street plays all over Assam. After arousing social consciousness with their street shows, they would later stage full dramas.

If our culture is to be exalted, and the arts are to be the vehicle of exaltation, the society cannot treat the arts with indifference, which is what is happening with the Dhulia culture of South Kamrup, a folk art which is diminishing rapidly as a result of declining interest among the young people.

Director Biswajit Kalita took this cause to stage a full-fledged stage drama, which has now developed into an Assamese movie 'Bhaworiya'. The film, produced by Pankaj Kumar Jain under the banner of SNG Production, got released on January 4 all over the State. The cast of artistes are are Bishnu Kharghoriya, Pubali, Jyoti Kishor, Nipon Goswami, Atul Pasoni, Hiranya Das and Debajani. Birubala Rabha makes a guest appearance. Tarali Sarma, Zubeen Garg and Kumar Bhabesh are the playback singers.