At the 6th Sailadhar Baruah Film Awards (Northeast) 2023, Shrutismriti Changkakati’s Assamese film ‘Before Spring’ emerged as the most triumphant, clinching five awards in a fiercely competitive field featuring 17 entries from Assam and Meghalaya. The awards, organized annually by the Sailadhar Baruah Memorial Trust in honour of the renowned Assamese producer, were announced on December 2 at the Gauhati Press Club in Guwahati.
Changkakati’s film secured the prestigious Best Film award along with accolades for Best Screenwriter, Best Cinematographer (Jayanth Sethu Mathavan), Best Film Editor (Abhishikta K), and Best Male Actor (Abhijit Roy).
The jury panel, headed by veteran filmmaker Manju Borah and comprising notable names such as Monuj Borpujari, Prerona Borborua, Bobby Wahengbam, and Kishore Kumar Sarma, played a crucial role in determining the winners.
The awards ceremony is scheduled for January 10 at the Jyoti Chitraban Auditorium in Guwahati. Acclaimed director Gautam Ghose will grace the occasion as the chief guest, and actress Jaya Saikia Duwara will be the guest of honour.
The event will also feature the presentation of Lifetime Achievement Awards to renowned filmmaker Samarendra Narayan Dev (‘Aranya‘ fame) and veteran actor Dinesh Das. The ceremony will conclude with a screening of ‘Before Spring.’
Other notable winners include Rajni Basumatary, who secured the Best Director award for ‘Gorai Phakhri’ in the Bodo language, Tarali Sarma, awarded Best Music Director for ‘Mirbeen’ in Karbi, Debajit Gayan, honoured as Best Sound Designer for ‘Ata Nirjon Duparia’ in Assamese, and Parvi Barua, named Best Female Actor for her role in ‘Ata Nirjon Duparia.’
The Jury’s Special Mention recognized ‘Kuhipatar Rong’ by Nava Kumar Nath, Kamal Lochan for his outstanding performance in ‘Mor Xekh Gaan,’ and Jintu Kumar Kashyap for ‘Made in Nalbari.’
Sailadhar Baruah, a prominent filmmaker of the state, collaborated with Jahnu Barua to create several award-winning films, including ‘Halodhia Choraye Baodhan Khai’ (The Catastrophe) and ‘Xagoroloi Bohudoor’ (It’s a Long Way to the Sea), bringing laurels to the region. He became the first producer from the Northeast to win the Golden Lotus. Baruah passed away on January 10, 2010.
