The 4th edition of Sailadhar Baruah Memorial Film Awards announced on December 26 was dominated by films from Assam and Manipur. This is for the first time, the awards are covering the films from the entire Northeast.
Anupam Kaushik Borah’s directorial debut Bornodi Bhotiai won the best film while Monjul Baruah named as the best director for Kaaneen.
The best screen writer award went to Rajni Basumatary for Bodo language film Jwlwi, The Seed. Bhaskar Hazarika directed Aamis won in three categories – best actor (female) for Lima Das, best music for Quan Bay and best sound design for Gautam Nair.
Manipuri film Laman Ama won in two categories – best cinematography for Arjun Ningthemcha and best art direction for Sanad Aribam.
Best actor (male) went to Arun Hazarika for his role in Gobardhan Sorit.
Apart from that the jury special mention will be given to three child actors – Maharnav Mahanta, Rishiraj Baruah and Gia Baruah for Xhoixobote Dhemalite directed by Bidyut Kotoky. Papori Saikia for her role in Assamese film Pokhilar Pakhi will also get jury special mention. There were 10 categories.
Mrinmoy Baruah, president of the Sailadhar Baruah trust, said that they received altogether 15 films from the region.
“We are happy to announce the awards today. This year we are covering the entire NE states. We hope to continue like this and grow bigger in the days to come,” said Baruah.
The five member jury team led by veteran filmmaker Gautam Bora and comprises of multiple national award winning filmmaker Haobam Paban Kumar, sound designer Jatin Sarmah, noted film critic and journalist Munin Bayan and popular actress Zerifa Wahid.
Ranjit Das, secretary of the trust said that the award ceremony will be held on January 10, 2020 which is the death anniversary of Sailadhar Baruah.
Internationally acclaimed filmmaker Shaji N Karun will be present on the award ceremony among others. The best film will also be screened on that day.
Sailadhar Baruah was a prominent filmmaker of the state who along with Jahnu Barua made several award winning films which included Halodhia Choraye Baodhan Khai (The Catastrophe) and Xagoroloi Bohudoor (It’s a Long Way to the Sea) and brought laurels for the state. He is also the first producer from the region to win the Golden Lotus. Baruah had passed away on January 10, 2010.
