Ishu, a film which deals with witch hunting in Assam is all set for its US premier. The film directed by national award winning film critic turned filmmaker Utpal Borpujari will be screened at the New York Indian Film Festival on May 12. Earlier, the film has travelled to several places.
The film produced by Children’s Film Society, India (CFSI) had won the Special Jury Award in Indian Competition section of 10th Bengaluru International Film Festival earlier this year.
The film reflects the rural ambience of western Assam in its truest sense, and it will instantly take the viewer to a world of a kid whose innocent and happy-go-lucky world turns topsy turvy thanks to the superstitious society of adults around him. It’s directorial debut for film critic turned filmmaker Borpujari.
“The film takes a look at the inhuman practice of ‘witch hunting’ that is prevalent in parts of Assam as well as some other parts of India, through the eyes of an innocent child whose favourite aunt is branded as a ‘witch’ by the evil village ‘Bej’ (quack) who conspires with another aunt to do so,” said Borpujari.
‘Ishu’ was selected in competition sections of 11th International Children’s Film Festival Bangladesh in January this year and also will be at the 6th Toulouse Indian Film Festival, France, to be held in April.
The film stars two-time national award (special jury mention)-winning actor Bishnu Kharghoria and national award-winning Manipuri actress Tonthoingambi Leishangthem Devi, along with veterans like Chetana Das and Pratibha Choudhury and talented younger actors like Monuj Borkotoky, Dipika Deka and Nibedita Bharali.
