Assamese cinema
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Assamese cinema was born in 1935 when Jyoti Prasad Agarwala released his movie Joymoti.[1] Since then Assamese cinema has developed a slow-paced sensitive style, especially with the movies of Bhabendra Nath Saikia and Jahnu Barua.
However despite its long history, and its artistic successes, for a state that has always taken its cinema seriously, Assamese cinema has never really managed to make the breakthrough on the national scene despite its film industry making a mark in the National Awards over the years. Although the beginning of the 21st century has seen Bollywood-style Assamese movies have hit the screen, the industry has not been able to compete on the market, significantly overshadowed by the larger industries such as Bollywood [2]
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[edit] History
[edit] 1930s
The origin of Assamese Cinema can be traced back to the dreams and imagination of a revolutionary visionary Rupkonwar Jyotiprasad Agarwala, who was also a distinguished poet, playwright, composer and freedom fighter. He was instrumental in the production of the first Assamese Film Joymati in 1935, under the banner of Critrakala Movietone. Due to the lack of trained technicians, Jyotiprasad, while making his maiden film, had to shoulder the added responsibilities as the script writer, producer, director, choreographer, editor, set and costume designer, lyricist and music director. The film, completed with a budget of 60,000 rupees was released on March 10, 1935. The picture failed miserably. It is unfortunate that like so many early Indian films , the negatives and complete prints of Joymati are missing. Some effort has been made privately by Altaf Mazid to restore and sub-title whatever is left of the prints.[3] Despite the significant financial loss from Joymati the second picture Indramalati was filmed between 1937 and 1938 finally released in 1939.
[edit] 1940s
Remaining strong in the face of adversity, Agarwala made another film after a lapse of two years titled Indramalati. It was his second and last film. The eminent composer and singer of Assam Bhupen Hazarika, played a stellar role in the play. With the passing away of Jyotiprasad, the Assamese film scene witnessed a temporary lull for about a couple of years. But things changed with the onset of World War II, Taking advantage of this, Rohini Kr. Baruah made a film on a relevant historical topic called Manomati in 1941. It was followed by films like Parvati Prasad Baruva's Rupahi (1946), Kamal Narayan Choudhury's Badan Barphukan (1947), Phani Sharma's Siraj, Asit Sen's Biplabi, Prabin Phukan's Parghat and Suresh Goswami's Runumi etc.
[edit] 1950s
The most remarkable film of the fifties was Piyali Phukan which went on to win a National award.The movie was produced by eminent film producer Gama Prasad Agarwalla under the aegis of Rup Jyoti Productions. The film was directed by Phani Sharma and music was composed by a young Bhupen Hazarika. The film was about the life of the freedom fighter Piyali Phukan, who stood against the British Rule. He was executed by the british on charges of Treason. This film technically was very advanced during that time. In 1955, a new talent Nip Barua made his directorial debut with Smrit Paras. His subsequent films Mak Aaru Moram and Ranga Police bagged many state awards and the silver medal at the national level. Bhupen Hazarika also produced and directed his first film Era Bator Sur. Prabhat Mukherjee made a film on the universality of mother-hood, Puberan (1959),which was shown in The Berlin Film Festival.
[edit] 1960s
The next notable film production was Lachit Borphukan by Sarbeswar Chakraborty. Bhupen Hazarika made his unforgettable musical Shakuntala in 1961 which proved equally successful with critics and the press winning the president's silver medal. Following this, a chain of films went into regular production and got released which included Nip Barua's Narakasur, Anil Choudhury's Matri Swarga, Brojen Barua's Itu Situ Bahuto and Mukta & Anwar Hussain's Tejimala.
By the middle of the sixties, film began to be produced in Assam on a regular basis. However, between 1935 and 1970 a total of 62 films were produced. Besides the film makers already referred to, many others engaged in film making during the period included Pravin Sharma, Saila Barua, Abdul Mazid, Amar Pathak, Indukal Pattazarika, Diben Barua, Debkumar Basu, Amulya Manna, Gauri Barman, Atul Bardoloi, Sujit Singh, Nalin Duara and Prafulla Barua.
[edit] 1970s
During the period of 1970-82 a total of 57 Assamese films were made. New directors started emerging on the horizon. Samarendra Narayan Deb's Aranya (1970), Kamal Choudhury's Bhaity (1972) the first colour film of Assam, Manoranjan Sur's Uttaran (1973), Deuti Barua's Bristi (1974) Pulok Gogoi's Khoj (1974) Padum Barua's Ganga Chilanir Pakhi (1976) and Dr. Bhabendranath Saikia's Sandhya Raag (1977) and Atul Bordoloi's Kollol (1978) are films worth - mentioning.
[edit] 1980-
Notable directors of contemporary Assamese Cinema are Jahnu Baruah (who directed Aparoopa, Papori, Haladhia Choraye Baodhan Khai, Banani, Firingoti and Hkhagoroloi Bohu Door); Sanjeev Hazarika (Haladhar, Meemanxa) and Bhabendaranath Saikia who directed Anirbaan, Agnisnaan, Sarothi, Kolahol, Abartan, Itihaas and Kaal Sandhya). Other directors include Santwana Bordoloi who directed Adajya and Bidyut Chakraborty who made Rag Birag, both of which have won National & International Awards.
[edit] Assamese films
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[edit] Actors and Actresses
Tara,Jamuna Baruah,Phani Sarma,Jatin Bora,Moloya Goswami,Bindiya Goswami,Geetawali Rajkumari,Chetana Das,Trisha Saikia,Jotin Borah, Ravi Sarma, Gayotry Mahanta, Hiranya Das, Hiranya Deka, Nipon Goswami, Biju Phukan,Jharna Saikia, Akashdeep, Tapan Das, Mridula Boruah, Aimee Boruah, Prastuti Parashar, Bornali Pujari, Barasha Rani Bishaya, Jerifa Wahid, Nayan Nirban, Ankur Bishaya, Pranjal Saikia, Rajiv Goswami, Purabi Sarma, Malaya Goswami, Bidya Rao, Nishita Goswami, Bishnu Kharghoria, Atul Pachoni,Divya Desai
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Assamese film at the Internet Movie Database
- History of Assamese Cinema from rupaliparda.com
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