On Tuesday, during the open forum session at the second edition of Guwahati International Film Festival (GIFF), experts and filmmakers discussed on the topic ‘Emerging Trends in Assamese Cinema’.
Parthajit Baruah, a film scholar and author of Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s biography ‘Face-to-Face: The Cinema of Adoor Gopalakrishnan’ said that studying the contemporary films of the periods will help understanding the trends in Assamese cinema which will in turn work for the betterment of the current scenario.
“For example, we studied Jyotiprasad Agarwala’s Joymoti but we hardly studied his second feature film Indramalati which consisted of romantic and humorous elements. The 1970s are considered as the golden period of Assamese films. Gonga Silonir Pakhi by Padum Barua released in 1976 was a hit at that time and also a landmark in Assamese cinema. But at the same time, Dr Bezbarua (1969) directed by Brajen Barua was also a classic which also needs to given importance as a movie for discussion and research,” Baruah said.
“Hence, we have to discuss about Mission China and Local Kung Fu along with Haanduk, Village Rockstars,” he added.
The moderator of the open forum was filmmaker Prerona Barbaruah and the discussion was attended by Kenny Basumatary director of the Local Kung Fu, film critic Pranjal Borah, Parthajit Baruah and Dhruva Bordoloi, director of Duronir Nirola Poja.
Kenny Basumatary, director of Assamese action comedy film series, ‘Local Kung Fu’, said that the Assamese film market has the potential to be hit in the box office.
“Mission China and Village Rockstars encouraged us to make movie of such calibre,” Kenny said who has completed yet another action-packed movie ‘Suspended Inspector Boro’.
Film critic Pranjal Borah, part of the panel discussion, said that independent filmmakers have crossed the barriers with their innovative ideas and work.
