Focus on NE Cinema Will Help Reduce Information Gap: Jahnu Barua

By Utpal Borpujari

(Published in Eastern Chronicle, http://www.easternchronicle.net; 24-11-2014)

Women of NE Cinema in Focus, Jahnu Barua retro ‘n’ masterclass, Sher Chowdhury tribute at IFFI

From Utpal Borpujari

Panaji: The International Film Festival of India will once again have a strong Northeastern flavour this year, as the 45th edition of the festival starting on November 19 will take forward the journey started last year which had seen a big splash of cinema from the region peppered with showcasing of culture, handicraft and food from the region.

This year, the focus will be depiction of women in cinema from the region. In a package curated by this author, seven films with strong women protagonists will be showcased during he 10-day cinematic extravaganza at India’s most sought-after beach destination.

Adding icing to the cake will be a special retrospective of films by Jahnu Barua, chronicling his journey as a filmmaker. Barua will also attend a “Masterclass” session.

The highlight among the films being shown in the “Women in Northeastern Cinema” package will definitely be Padum Barua’s masterpiece “Ganga Chilanir Pakhi”. This path-breaking film in the history of Assamese cinema will be for the first time screened at an international festival of this scale, 38 years after it was released. Based on Lakhminandan Bora’s eponymous novel, the film remains a hidden gem of Indian cinema. Hopefully, the screening at IFFI will lead to its wider appreciation across among Indian film historians.

The other major attraction in this package will be Santwana Bordoloi’s highly-aecclaimed (but unfortunately till date her only film) “Adajya”. Based on Mamoni Raisom Goswami’s “Dontal Hatir Uwe Khowa Howdah”, this internationally-acclaimed Assamese film will also be screened as a tribute to National Award-winning music composer Sher Chowdhury, who passed away last year.

In fact, “Adajya” will open the section and those expected to attend the screening are Bordoloi and Sher Chowdhury’s sister-in-law Nowzara Sultana Chowdhury.

The other attractions of the package are Dr Bhabendra Nath Saikia’s “Abartan”, set in the backdrop of Assam’s Bhramyoman Theatre movement, Aribam Syam Sharma’s acclaimed love story “Sanabi” (Manipuri), Oinam Goutam Singh’s “Phijigee Mani” (Manipuri) and Joseph Pulinthanath’s “Mathia” (Kokborok). Manipuri actress Leishangthem Tonthoingambi Devi, who won the best supporting Actress award at the National Awards for her role in “Phijigee Mani”, and “Mathia” lead artiste Meena Debbarma are scheduled to attend the festival.

Incidentally, quite a few women-centric films (such as Aribam Syam Sharma’s Ishanou, Ahsan Mujid’s Sonam, etc.) were screened as part of the Focus on Northeastern Cinema in 44th IFFI last year (also curated by this author), and, therefore, those films have been considered for this year’s package.

Meanwhile the Jahnu Barua Retrospective will comprise Aparoopa, Banani, Halodhiya Choraye Baodhan Khai, Hkhagoroloi Bohu Door, Konikar Ramdhenu, Baandhon, Ajeyo and Firingoti. His Masterclass during the festival is expected to be packed house affair.

In addition to these, there will be four more films from the region as part of the Indian Panorama section. They are “Ri” (Khasi) directed by Pradip Kurbah and “Othello” (Assamese) directed by Hemanta Kumar Das in the feature section, and “Songs of the Blue Hills” (English and Nagamese) directed by this author and “The Last Adieu” (Assamese) directed by Aneisha Sharma in the non-feature section.

(Published in Eastern Chronicle, 20-11-2014)