Assamese film Aamis shines at Singapore festival

Aamis – The News Mill
A still from Bhaskar Hazarika's Aamis

Assamese language film Aamis has won two awards at the third edition of Singapore South Asian International Film Festival (SgSAIFF). Apart from the best director award which was won by Bhaskar Hazarika, Lima Das has won the best actor (female) award at the festival.

In addition, editor of Aamis, Shweta Rai Chamling, was nominated for the best editor award.

Aamis is directed and written by Bhaskar Hazarika and produced by Poonam Deol and Shyam Bora. The film is about how a married Niri played by Lima Das shares a forbidden passion with Sumon, who introduces her to a world of fresh, wild, meat-based delicacies. But as their unconsummated desire mounts, the two are pushed inexorably towards transgression and taboo.

“It is always a great feeling to have one’s work recognized in international platforms. I thank the jury and the festival for bestowing this honour on me. Much love and thanks to the cast and crew of Aamis, whose passionate work made the film what it is,” said Hazarika after winning the award.

Aamis has been able to draw the critics’ attention globally. This is Hazarika’s second feature film and was selected for the 2017 Asian Cinema Fund’s Co-Production Market in Busan and the 2017 NFDC Film Bazaar Co-Production Market in Goa. ‘Aamis’ had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival 2019, where it competed in the International Narrative Competition section.

On her success on debut Lima Das thanked everyone who supported her. “I am delighted and proud to be honoured with such a prestigious award for my first ever role in a film. My heartfelt thanks to our director, crew, and all those who supported our film,” she said.

Aamis is a contemporary love story set in Guwahati, and recently wowed audiences in Mumbai when it was screened for the first time in India. Bollywood producer and director Vikramaditya Motwane reacted enthusiastically to the film in a tweet, where he said – “I have never seen a film this original and tender.”

According to the producers, the film is likely to be released in Assam by November this year.

The SgSAIFF 2019 featured over 40 films from South Asia, with Assamese cinema represented by Aamis and Jahnu Barua’s Bhoga Khirkee (Broken Window).

The festival seeks to support emerging filmmakers, open a fertile space for dialogue and collaborations within the industry, and most significantly share with the audience of Singapore the diverse and complex experiences of South Asia through the intimate storytelling medium of cinema.

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About Abdul Gani

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Abdul Gani is a Guwahati-based journalist