It was a pleasant experience for the residents of Mangaldai as they witness the first ever Open-Air Aaideo North East Film Festival. The three day film festival, which was free for all, was organized by the Darrang chapter of Aaideo Talkies, a socio-cultural organization.
“We are glad to have organized this open air film festival which is a unique initiative in the Northeast. There are some festivals which are conducted open air but these are for screening short films only. Here we have screened award winning feature films,” said Mayukh Goswami, vice president of the organizing committee.
Among others, ‘The Head Hunter’, ‘Nodi Matho Boi’, ‘Dooronir Nirola Poja’ and children film ‘Khhobh’ were screened in the festival which concluded on Sunday.
“People came in large numbers to attend the festival which encouraged us. There were some technical glitches as we are organizing the festival for the time yet we are encouraged to conduct such events in future,” Goswami added.
‘The Head Hunter’ made by Nilanjan Dutta, which won the national award in Wancho language, received much appreciation from the spectators.
‘Nodi Matho Boi’ by young filmmaker Jhulan Krishna Mahanta depicts a journey of a group of people from Umananda to Majuli.
‘Dooronir Nirola Poja’ is written, edited and directed by Dhruva J Bordoloi.
Ratna Das of Aaideo Talkies said that with such kind of activities they want to take films to different locations of the state especially to the rural areas.
“We want the people to watch cinema and learn to appreciate good films. So, we are screening for free of cost. There are many places with no cinema hall. We want to give these people an opportunity to watch good films,” Das said.
Besides, the organizers conducted a competition on short film making using mobile. In the short film contest ‘Moli-the Dirt’, directed by Anuprash Das, was adjudged the winner.
Jhulan Krishna Mahanta, whose film was screened at the festival, said that it’s a great initiative to organize such festivals in towns to attract people towards good cinema.
On Sunday, the organizers conferred Aaideo lifetime achievement award, instituted in memory of the first actress of the state, to the eminent playwright, actor, director and lyricist Hemanta Dutta in recognition of his immense contribution towards Assamese film industry.
