The trailer of Assamese feature film on witch hunting problem Aei Maatite was launched at the Guwahati Press Club on Monday. The film, releasing on October 6, is the first Assamese full-length film based on the subject.
The official trailer was released by veteran film and theatre actor Anil Das, senior actor and director at Centre for Inclusive Development in Tezpur University Rajeev Doley, popular actor and lyricist Sasanka Samir and the director Aei Maatite Sitanath Lahkar.
The trailer was edited by Hiranya Kalita, a faculty of Dr Bhupen Hazarika Regional Government Film and Television Institute. The music of the trailer was created by Tapan Das, while the mixing was done by Bijoy Kumar Nath at Jyoti Chitraban Film Studio.
Releasing the trailer, Sitanath Lahkar said: “With the launch of the official trailer, we have achieved another milestone today. It is a matter of joy to launch the trailer for the movie lovers. We had launched the official teaser in March and received very good response. We hope that movie enthusiasts will love the trailer and will come to the theatres to watch Aei Maatite on October 6.”
The movie, made under the banner of Angeekar Films, is directed by independent filmmaker and eminent theatre personality Sitanath Lahkar and is an adaptation of his famous stage play Tamasaa on the burning problem of witch hunting. The story, screenplay, dialogues and lyrics have also been penned by Lahkar, a retired Principal of Cotton College.
Commenting on the film and his association, Anil Das said: “I congratulate Lahkar for making his first film on such an important social problem. The film has come out very well and a glimpse can be seen in the trailer. We hope that people of Assam will appreciate the film and will come in big numbers to watch it.”
Speaking on the occasion, Rajeev Doley said: “Aei Maatite reflects a heinous social evil triggered by superstition and ill motivations. It gives a clarion call for a social awakening against it. I feel privileged to be a part of this great venture. Tezpur University finds this film as a unique way of educating people on a massive socio-cultural subject.”
During making of the film, Tezpur University extended support in terms of shooting space and providing the editing studio. Aei Maatite was edited by A Nagraj, a former assistant professor in Mass Communication and Journalism Department of the University. The film’s third unit cinematographer Amlan Kishor Hazarika was from the University. Besides Doley, poet and former Tezpur University Pro-VC Amarjyoti Choudhury also acted in a very important role.
Popular actor Sasanka Samir said: “Aei Maatite is an artistic protest against the burning problem of witch hunting by a group of socially conscious and culturally active people, who moved ahead under the guidance of Sitanath Lahkar sir. It is also an attempt to create awareness against the deadly evil.”
Aei Maatite got a U/A certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (Censor Board).
