Assam's artist, cartoonist and filmmaker Pulak Gogoi passes away at 84

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Artist, cartoonist and filmmaker Pulak Gogoi passed away at 8:30 here this morning. He was 84.

His mortal remains were consigned to the flames at Nabagraha crematorium this afternoon with state honours.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "The demise of artist, cartoonist and filmmaker Pulak Gogoi has saddened me. Pulak Gogoi, who contributed so much to the development of the Assamese film industry and art for decades, gifted several successful Assamese films besides occupying a respectable place among the art-loving audience. I pray for the eternal peace of respected Pulak Gogoi and convey my pain to the bereaved family members."

Born to artists Someswar Gogoi and Guanabana Gogoi on October 2, 1938, in Jorhat, Pulak Gogoi did his intermediate from JB College and got admitted to the Bandra School of Art in Mumbai for a four-year degree course in Applied Art. He, however, could not complete graduation from there.

His talent in art came to the fore when he won the first prize in an all-Assam Drawing Competition while studying in Class-6.

After his return from Mumbai, Pulak Gogoi joined the DIPR (Directorate of Information and Public Relations) as a commercial artist. He, however, left DIPR after working there for four months and joined a newspaper as a cartoonist. He had his paintings exhibited at the national and international fora. In 1972, he exhibited paintings in the USA.

After that, he started filmmaking and had his first Assamese 'Khoj' directed in 1974. He made nine Assamese films, and he was the producer of five of them.

His Assamese film 'Rail Alir Dubari Bon' (weeds on rail line), authored by Syed Abdul Malik, brought him the Rajat Kamal Award for the best regional film in the Assamese language in 1993. His other films are – Srimati Mahimamoyee (1978), Sadari (1983), Sendur (1984), Suruj (1985), Morom Nadir Gabharu Ghat (1999), Patnee (2003) and Momtaz (2013). He had three TV serials – Hriday Jetia Nadi Hoy (1991), Premar Karane and Jonakar Baraxan (2006) – to his credit.

He made three documentaries – Kamrupiya Dhuliya (1988), The Rhythm (1992) and Katha Roopkar Lakhinanda Bora (2016).

The books to his credit are – Parambeer Hamid, Hoimantika and Pulake Koise Pulakor Katha (autobiography).

His exhibitions were in Mumbai (2019), Kolkata (1972 and 2011), New Delhi (1971 and 1976), Washington (1972-73), Guwahati (2007), Kaziranga (2015), Jorhat (2008), Shillong (1968, 1969 and 1970) and at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati (2004-2010).

He received the Kalaguru Bishnu Rabha Award in 2017, Rajat Kamal Award in 1993, Pranab Baruah Shilpi Award in 2010, Assam Sports and Cultural Festival Award in 2014, Guriji Adya Sharma Award in 2006, etc.

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, State Cultural Affairs Minister Bimal Borah, AGP president Atul Bora, APCC president Bhupen Bora, State BJP president Bhabesh Kalita, AIUDF president Badruddin Ajmal and others condoled his demise.

Also Read: Ukraine war: Russia orders troops to withdraw from Kherson

Also Watch: