| Tribute to Sada Chowdhury Sada Chowdhury, who reportedly committed suicide a few days back, is a familiar name to be reckoned with in the field of the Assamese film industry. He was a silent film activist who relentlessly worked for the development of the industry. Due to his untiring efforts, some Assamese films of yesteryears have been preserved. A pioneer in Assamese film distribution, he arranged to screen films in remote areas with a small mobile unit, during the 1970s and 1980s. Recently, he deposited some prints of old Assamese films in the Jyoti Chitraban Film and Television Institute. Incidentally, a few prints were in his personal archive at his Panikhaiti house, made of thatch and mud. It is learnt that due to extreme poverty on one hand and acute illness on the other, he chose the extreme step. Sada was a contemporary of this writer, living in the same Uzanbazar area of Guwahati. He was influenced by legendary figures like Satya Prasad Barua, Saila Barua, Brajen Baruah, Nip Baruah, Phani Sharma, Bishnu Prasad Rabha, Bhupen Hazarika and many others. He had the penchant for cultural activities since his early days. He worked almost single-handedly for proper distribution of Assamese films, establishing close links with Hindi film distributors. He took the initiative for the reprint of Piyoli Phukan (1955), directed by Phani Sarma, the first Assamese film to win a certificate of merit at the national level. He arranged to telecast Narakasur (1961) on Doordarshan. Even a few months back, in an interaction with this writer, he regretted that due to the lack of foresight of the Assamese film producers, prints of several remarkable Assamese films are not available today. Sada had a dream, to preserve prints of all Assamese films for the future. His death is definitely a great loss to the Assamese film industry. |
| Anuradha Theatre Actor-director Baharul Islam will direct a play to be presented by Theatre Anuradha, a mobile troupe in its fourth year session. The planning and concept of the theatre is by Gauri Barman, while its producer is Minu Barman. The dramas this season include Bisphoran, depicting the present day violence and killings, Raktabiz based on Henrik Ibsen’s Ghost, written by Samarendra Barman, Rama Barman’s Ajir Balmiki and Avatar Singh’s Bondhu Nohowai Bhaal. The artistes include Atul Pachani, Dilip Kakati, Jayanta Sarma, Namita Das, Lima Saikia, Gitika Medhi, Binita Neog, Jiwan Hatikakati, Saranga Borthakur and others. Other directors of the dramas are Dipak Rai, Samarendra Barman and Rama Barman. The rehearsal will begin on July 20 at Amukhowa near Sarthebari. Purab Chetia is the representative of the theatre. |
| Children’s album An album of children’s songs and  dances, to be released in both audio and video formats, titled Geetor Bukut Jenifer-Ayan is under production under the banner of Rul Amin Production of Duliajan. It is produced by Anjumanara Rehman Khanikar. Jenifer and Ayan, sister and brother, are students of Class V and Class I of DPS, Delhi respectively, who, besides performing, have rendered the songs. The musical score is done by Manas Hazarika, who has also written the lyrics along with Harendra Borthakur and Dilip Nath. Director Jitu Ahmed has also done the camera work. Sailen Ramsiary is the choreographer. |
| Bhajan Malika A bhajan CD — Bhajan Malika — made by  Shristi of Dibrugarh was released at a function in Guwahati recently. The CD comprises of eight numbers, starting with Mangalacharan sung by Aditi Barua, a radio artiste, along with her young son Anurag Barua (Niyar). Music is by Hiren Gohain, assisted by Tapan Bordoloi.After Ajit Dutta, classical singer and music teacher lit the ceremonial lamp, singer Pulak Banerjee released Bhajan Malika and remarked that the bhajans of the CD were very well sung. He also dwelt at leangth on the problem of making a CD by the Assamese artistes and more particularly, marketing them. The function was attended by Dr Jyotinath Chakravarty, Bhadra Bora, Bhupen Uzir among others. Atulananda Goswami spoke on the occasion. |
| Artists Guild The 33rd anniversary celebration of Gauhati Artists Guild, one of the pioneering institutes of art was held on July 11 at Dream Art Complex of the Guild in the presence of distinguished artistes and art lovers. Guild’s founder president Benu Mishra conducted the function, where artists Biren Singh, Pranab Barua Award winner and Noni Borpuzari, Bishnu Rabha Award winner were felicitated. The 29th edition of Chihna, art journal of the Guild was inaugurated by actor Pranjal Saikia. Among others, DN Saikia, Sankar Prasad Kakati Bora, Atulananda Goswami and Aminul Haque addressed the gathering. |
Apurba Kumar Das