'Jeevanor Baatot' : Creating a buzz: Sight & Sound

Prantik Deka

'jeevanor baatot' : creating a buzz

A new film made from Naharkatiya in Upper Assam has been creating a buzz among film buffs, and the people involved in its making, in particular, the producer and director, are promising to provide wholesome entertainment to a family audience. Titled 'Jeevanor Baatot', the film is expected to release during or around the time of Durga Puja and is being produced by the Naharkatiya-based cultural activist Dilip Buragohain – under the banner of Kareng Cine Art. Buragohain was once involved in the production of Dr Bhabendra Nath Saikia's all-time classic 'Sandhyarag'. Based on his own story, the film's script and dialogue have been penned by Dhruba Jyoti Mohan, who has also directed the film.

Small-town directors have taken over Assamese cinema and are now expanding its horizon, even beyond national borders. These directors have successfully experimented with local themes and explored its incessant possibilities.

Mohan, who hails from Moranhat, is one such aspiring director. His love for cinema motivated him to hone his craft, and he worked as an assistant director with some of the most prominent names in Assamese cinema, such as Nip Barua, Siva Prasad Thakur, Dara Ahmed and Bollywood's Mukul Dutta, among others, who helped him imbibe various narrative forms and techniques. After working in films such as 'Antony Mur Naam', 'Aai Mur Janame Janame', 'Ghar Xanxar', 'Xun Moina', 'Mon Mandir', 'Madhuchanda' and 'O' Chenai' in the Eighties, he went on to direct two popular video films – 'Jeevanor Rong' and 'Sikhamoni'. 'Sikhamoni', which starred Nipon Goswami, Arup Baishya, Pabitra Barua, among others, got released in 2008 to immense popularity. It has also been frequently shown on Assamese channels.

His maiden Assamese film, set in both rural and urban Assam, promotes women empowerment and social change. The film also has some action scenes as they are a crucial part of the storytelling. 'Jeevanor Baatot' has been enriched by actors and technicians from Naharkatiya, Digboi, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Moran and Sivasagar. A community atmosphere prevailed in the places where the camera rolled, making it an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

The acting unit composed of Dilip Buragohain, Momi Changmai, Dhruba Jyoti Mohan, Antara Bhagawati, Pinki Basumatary, Putul Neog, Ramai Saikia, Avyarthana Dutta, Nikita Tanti, Khirud Baruah, Pradip Kumar Deori, Niharika Mohan, Nilakshi Barua, Pratibha Khanikar, Pradip Deori, Manjit Chetia, child artistes Brishti Deka, Tezaswi Mohan, Roktutpal Buragohain, etc.

The film's cinematography is done by Santanu Dutta and Pinkal Das, the music is by Aryan-Malaika, the background music has been scored by Nurul Sagar Preet, the choreography is by Surajit Hatimuria, the make-up has been done by Mainu Gogoi, the costumes are by Nitu Kachari, the sound is by Palash Kanchan Barua, and the still photography is by Sahadulla Ali.

'Jeevanor Baatot' features a number of soulful melodies. The evergreen song – 'Poka dhanor maje maje soru soru ali..', rendered by Luit Konwar Rudra Barua himself, has been beautifully picturised on a group of children, who will be seen dancing to the tune in the paddy fields during the time of Aghon, while listening to the radio. The rest of the songs are sung by Aryan Krishna and Malaika Krishti. The film's chief assistant directors are Khirud Baruah, Manash Pratim Handique and Ritu Borgohain. The film's executive producer is Momi Changmai.

sattriya exponenet felicitated

Anuprerona, a socio-cultural organisation, felicitated Sattriya exponent Govinda Saikia at a function held at the Institute of Engineers recently.

He was conferred the Prof Sailen Saikia Memorial Award in recognition of his distinguished services for popularising and publicising the glory of Sattriya culture outside Assam.

The function was presided over by DN Chakravartty, president of Anuprerona. Writer and cultural activist Ratna Ojah, while addressing the function as the chief guest, appreciated the initiative of Anuprerona in promoting the Sattriya culture in particular and the Assamese music and culture in general. He appealed to the younger generation to devote more attention to proper study and glorification of the Sattriya culture, not only within Assam but also outside the State and abroad.

Nilu Gogoi, the first Assamese woman flautist, enthralled the audience with her rendering of Borgeet and Bhupendra Sangeet.

Deepjyoti Saikia, secretary of Anuprerona, read out the citation and presented a gamosa, sarai and seleng sador to Saikia.

Saikia thanked Anuprerona for honouring him and appealed to the people to be more conscious about the need for promoting the cause of the Assamese culture in general and the Sattriya music and dance in particular.

'kareng beypir hanhi' successfully staged

Abhimukh-Notunor Naatghar of Nonoi, Nagaon, presented the play 'Kareng Beypir Hanhi' at the Barogoyan Natya Mandir Auditorium recently. Written by eminent dramatist Biplab Jyoti Bhuyan, the play was directed by Bidyut Kumar Nath, a young actor-director and alumni of NSD, Sikkim. The play, which was performed in various places in Assam, depicted the fight between the ruler and the ruled, the exploiter and the exploited. The cast included Bidyut, Himangshu, Bikash, Jintu, Angshuman, Ujjal, Hiranya, Helen, Amlandeep, Parishmita, Rupam, Paresh, Hemanta and Jyotishna. The music of the play was arranged by Pabitra and Pankaj.

'the man who speaks nature' now out on youtube

'The Man who Speaks Nature', a film by Assamese filmmakers Dhritiman Kakati and Raktim Hazarika, along with Prabal Bora as the production head, is now out on YouTube for public viewing.

The documentary provides a glimpse into the life and work of Manoj Gogoi, a conservationist based in Kaziranga, who has dedicated his life towards the rescue and rehabilitation of snakes and birds in particular. The movie also attempts to seek the reasons behind his plunge into conservation work and exhibits a peek into the daily work schedule of Gogoi that comes with being a self-styled naturalist known to have rescued and rehabilitated over 4000 species of flora and fauna.

As Gogoi dwells on the reasons that motivated his work and how it has affected his personal life in the documentary, the film is an effort, therefore, towards showcasing, delicately, the elaborate view of the intersection of the personal and professional space of the determined naturalist.

The film has been screened in many prestigious film festivals. Earlier, 'The Man Who Speaks Nature' bagged the Best Film Award at the 5th International Nature Film Awards in Godollo, Hungary, which was held from May 23 to 27 this year. It was also awarded the 'Second Best Film' at Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival in 2018.