Sight and Sound

Before writing on a new film's post-production works, let me re-visit the past. In April 3, 1941, the third Asomiya film 'Manomati' produced and directed by tea planter Rohini Kumar Barua was released. 'Manomati' was based on distinguished litterateur Rajanikanta Bordoloi's popular work of the same name. The historical work depicted the turbulent times when Asom was being attacked. Sahityarathi Lakshminath Bezbarua's middle daughter Ratna Barua portrayed the role of Padumi in the film. Rohini Kumar Barua who is Ratna Barua's husband played the role of Santiram Atoi. Presently a resident of Jorhat's Raja Maidam, Nilima Das played the title role of Manomati. She was then known as Nilima Dutta. Despite the passage of years, 'Manomati' has stood the test of time to become cult, showcasing the talent of Rohini Kumar Barua who knew how to make a good story and give it life with good quality.

Since then, so much time has flown by. Now 'Manomati' is actually a reference point to the subject of longer Asomiya films being made over the years. They cover all genres, from drama, history to comedy. 'Manomati' is one of the lengthiest Asomiya film with 19 reels comfortably reaching the three hour mark. Till 1971, 'Manomati' was the lengthiest Asomiya film.

Brojen Barua's three hour long 'Lalita' (19 reels) was released in 1972. With the advent of colour, more movies followed. A couple of them were quite long too. Siva Prasad Thakur's hit movie 'Ghar Sansar' at 19 reels was also a three hour movie. Initially the film finished off with 22 reels. It was finally pared down to 19 reels. M Maniram's 'Mon Jai' was also a three hour long film. Due to assured treatment and technical finesse, the length wasn't considered an issue with 'Mon Jai'. Asif Iqbal Hussain's historical 'Ajan Faquir Saheb' was just eight minute short of three hours in length. Over the years, cutting styles of movies have noticeably changed. The pacing is quite crisp nowadays. However, viewers are not unduly worried of a film's running time if it's story is being expertly developed and structured.

Timothy Das Hanse's 'Pole Pole Ure Mon' is now being considered as the lengthiest Asomiya film ever. Now on the editing table, 'Pole Pole Ure Mon's final length at three hour and fifteen minutes is quite certain. Altogether 137 raw films were exposed during it's entire shooting schedule. In general, 70-80 cans were used in a mainstream Asomiya film. What really matters is a truly compelling story and performances strong enough to keep the viewer going. Timothy Hanse is making sure that people get wrapped into the story. There is no mindless punching, kicking or shouting. Just eyes lifted up to a fascinating story. 'Pole Pole Ure Mon' is cinematographed by Shibanon Barua. Music is scored by Arup Dutta, Timothy Das Hanse and Biman Barua. Outdoor sound by Touhidur Rehman (Nazu). Editing by Debangkar Borgohain (Debu).

The film is produced by Phukan Konwar, Purnananda Gogoi and Beauty Barua under the banner of 'Hills Motion Picture Association' of Diphu. The film's story, script and dialogues are written by Timothy Das Hanse. The various roles are played by Nipon Goswami, Dinesh Das, Moloya Goswami, Arun Nath, Arun Hazarika, Madhurima Choudhury, Hiranya Deka, Ravi Sarma, Barsharani Bishaya, Gayatri Mahanta, Rimpi Das, Jupitora Bhuyan, Parinita, Saurav Hazarika, Arup Bora, Spandan, Beauty Barua and Bollywood artistes Raza Murad, Puspa Verma and 'Jab We Met' actor Tarun Arora. The film's chief assistant director is Lohit Dutta.

Since his second film 'Prabhati Pakhir Gaan' (1992), eminent director Munin Barua has always worked with internationally known film editor A Shreekar Prasad of Chennai. Munin Barua's first film 'Pitaputra' (1988) was edited by Shreekar Prasad's father A Sanjeevi. A multiple National Award winner, A Shreekar Prasad has edited quite a lot of films made in various regional languages besides films from Sri Lanka. Eminent Sri Lankan director Prasanna Vithanegor's internationally acclaimed 'Akash Kusum' was also edited by A Shreekar Prasad. After landing in Chennai, Munin Barua was busy with editor Shreekar Prasad giving final shape to his much anticipated film 'Ramdhenu'. Everything has gone quite smoothly so far much to Munin Barua's satisfaction. Soon after his arrival in Guwahati, 'Ramdhenu's dubbing has commenced. Asom's reputed sound recordist Jatin Sarma is supervising the dubbing works. 'Ramdhenu' filled with several interesting characters has multiple story threads and some unexpected screen moments. The film's story mostly set in Guwahati locations functions as a cautionary tale that speaks to our own bouts of self-absorption and the problems we create for ourselves. Munin Barua's realistic story gets an unusual treatment here. The performances are kept subtle too. There is also a sizzling item number in the film performed by newcomer Moonmi Phukan. The song was filmed on set resembling a bar at the Jyoti Chitraban Studio premises. Its sung by Mumbai's popular playback singer Sunidhi Chauhan. The film produced by popular channel 'Rang' also has story, script and dialogues by Munin Barua. Music is scored by Jatin Sarma (Maina). Cinematography is by Suman Duwara. Costumes and art direction by Manjula Barua. 'Ramdhenu' stars Bishnu Khargharia, Tapan Das, Jatin Bora, Prastuti Parashar, Nischita Goswami, Kulada Kumar Bhattacharjya, Juwan Dutta, Pakija Begum, Jayanta Deka, Jayanta Das, Utpal Das, Mitali Sarma, etc. The film is slated for release during the Durga Puja festivities.

Sangeet Natak Academy winner, Kamalabari Satra's Barbayan, Bayanasarjya Ghanakanta Bora won tremendous praise and appreciation performing Sattriya and khol in a National Music Conference held at IIT Kanpur amidst a distinguished gathering of scholars, artistes and media persons. His talented disciples, Anwesha Mahanta and Dwijen Barman joined him on stage to a stunning display of Sattriya and khol drum. The combined performance enraptured the audiences. A workshop on Sattriya dance was also conducted by Ghanakanta Barbayan from June 1 to June 5 at the cultural event which was held under the intitiative of 'Society For Promotion Of Indian Classical Music And Culture Among Youth (SPICMACAY)'s North-East branch. Students from Jalandhar, Varanashi, Kolkata, Chattisgarh, Kanpur, Delhi, Kerela and other places took part in the workshop. They derived great artistic satisfaction in this dance form. The idea behind this workshop was to popularise Sattriya dance and pass on this great art to posterity, in the hope that it will continue to live on, to enliven and enlighten, for generations to come. An accomplished teacher and performer of Sattriya, Ghanakanta Barbayan is deeply involved with preserving dance styles and music of Sattriya. As a dance exponent, he have had the good fortune to travel many places, presenting Sattriya dance to audiences from all over the country. The cultural event inaugurated by B L Joshi also had renowned artiste Girija Devi presenting her solo classical recital, T N Sheshan's virtuoso violin display, Pandit Rajan and Sajan Mishra performing classical music, 'Qaawali' show by Barchi brothers, Guru Gangadhar Pradhan's Raag based classical music, Ramkailash Jadav's 'Biraha', Ustad Ali Khan performing with the Rudrabeena and Pandit Ulhas Kalekar performing classical music. The cultural event also witnessed 102 year old Abul Rashid Khan's classical performance and eminent artiste Pandit Biswamohan Bhatt's delightful performance with the Beena. Audiences at the event will particularly remember Ghan Barbayan and Dwijen Barman's superb display of khol drum and Anwesha Mahanta's artistry over the intricate and finer nuances of Sattriya dance.

The new video CD 'Bonbhujor Ananda' is a wonderful gift to ardent lovers of poetry recitation. Through acting, this video album provides an innovative insight into the intriguing nature of poetry recitation. 'Bonbhujor Ananda' uses poetic words to convey deep thoughts and feelings. The video album produced under the banner of 'G K Production' is scripted, directed and planned by Deepak Bora. The album comprises of fourteen poems by such distinguished poets as Keshav Mahanta, Nabakanta Barua, Jyotiprasad Agarwala, Gautam Prasad Barua, Hem Barua, Birendra Kumar Bhattacharjya, Bishnuprasad Rabha, Ismael Hussain, etc. The works produced by these illustrious poets are an indelible part of the fabric of our state. The poems were recited by Purabi Saikia, Pankaj Bora, Pallabi Phukan, Dhritiman Keot, Tuhin Kanya Bora and others. Purabi Saikia's reading of Tukhprabha Kalita's 'Draupadi' is one of the album's highlights. She also beautifully captures the essence of another well-known poem 'Mamtar Sithi'. Two of the album's recitation pieces 'Dhritarashtrar Asuwa' and 'Hera Biplabi Bidruhi Veer' were read with much thought and feeling by Pankaj Bora and Pallabi Phukan. However the acting by the cast of newcomers looked quite shallow and vacuous mainly due to lack of any experience in the field. The artistes acting in the video are Deepak Bora, Ranjan Tamuli, Angana Bordoloi, Khagen Bayon, Nibedita Gayan, Rajashree Bora, etc.

A recent audio album 'Prithibir Sote' is a remarkable volume of poems by twenty industrious poets of the state. The poets whose works feature in the album are Birinchi Bhattacharjya, Hafiz Ahmed, Arun Mahanta, Lili Devi Borkotoky, Tapan Das, Mrinalini Saikia, Priyambada Das, Jyotsna Ali, Neera Talukdar, Khabir Ahmed, Nilima Goswami Sarma, Kumud Chandra Deka, Hemanta Kumar Goswami, Uttam Kakoti, Pranab Sarma, Md. Basirul Islam, Arunima Goswami and Pramod Chandra Bhattacharjya. The poets share their experiences or strong feelings. As a powerful genre, the album provides them with an opportunity to highlight their creativity and express their feelings. The album planned by Kishore Patowary is directed by Mridul Kumar Dutta. Music is composed by Rabindra Nath. The poems were recited by Birinchi Bhattacharjya, Mridul Kumar Dutta, Arunima Goswami, Satyajit Barua, Rabindra Das, Manasi Bujorbarua, Priyambada Das, Babul Choudhury, Kalpana Sarma, Kishore Patowary, Nilima Goswami Sarma, Hemanta Kumar Goswami and Pramod Chandra Bhattacharjya. The wonderful recitations by the poets and artistes brings the proceedings alive. The album presented by 'Rasraj' aims to ensure that important contemporary voices are not neglected and are properly recorded for posterity. Poetry has a calming effect to the senses. 'Prithibir Sote' unveils new dimensions.