| National seminar on Sankardeva A national seminar on the philosophy of Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva and other saints of India was organised on November 14 and 15 by the Sahitya Sakha Samiti Srimanta Sankar Sangha (Delhi) and the Department of Modern Indian Languages and Literary Studies, University of Delhi at Tagore Hall, Arts Faculty of the University. The chairpersons at different sessions of the seminar included Dr RN Chowdhury, Prof Nilima Sarma, Prof C Raveendran, Prof PC Pattanaik, Chandradhar Tripathy and Dr Girish Barua. Mukundakam Sarma, former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, released a book on the occasion. Dr Girish Barua, Kailash Chandra Das, Dr Suresh Chandra Bora and Dr Ratul Chandra Bora dwelt at length on the various aspects and works of Sankardeva. The inaugural address was delivered by Karunakanta Kalita, Padadhikar, Srimanta Sankar Sangha. At the valedictory session, Pritam Priya Goswami reviewed the seminar. Ratnottam Das offered the vote of thanks. – Inputs by A Aroop Kashyap |
| New VCD: Papori Papori, a VCD film based on Bihu  songs and dances, produced by Pradip Deka and Raju Rabha and directed by Rajesh Bhuyan, has been released. The story is written by the producer Deka while Prabhat Goswami has written the screenplay. The cast includes Nipon Goswami, Arun Hazarika, Madhurima Goswami, Shyamantika Sarma, Nikakshi Sarma, Pradip Deka, Julius and others. The photography is by Bishu. Meanwhile,the audio CD Papori 2009 was also released. The music direction is by Biman Barua and Jayanta Sonowal and the songs are rendered by Zubeen Garg, Tarali, Bhitali and others. |
| New video film: Chuma Chuma, a video film directed by  Bubul Das, is nearing completion after intensive shooting at Kolkata (Howrah Bridge), Bhubaneswar, Puri and Cuttuck. The story is written by director Das while Bipin Kalita has written the screenplay. The film has a number of newcomers including the hero RK Alyomyan, along with Asmita Kaushik, child artistes Puja Sarma, Kakoli Baishya and others. The film is produced by Pratibha Gogoi. |
| Kabita Talukdar – a promising singer Kabita Talukdar,  a promising talented singer – has made a mark in the field of Assamese music. Kabita is devoted to music since her childhood. A Visharad in classical vocal, she is also a degree holder in Gunin in Bargeet. She won the title of best singer consecutively for three years as a student of B Barooah College and topped at the Gauhati University Youth Festival. She was also adjudged as best singer while studying at the university. She is equally well versed in Assamese modern songs, Bargeet, Lokageet, Bhajan and classical vocals. A regular singer of DD and AIR, Guwahati, she has also performed at various places of the country as a casual artiste of the Songs and Drama Division, India and earned applause. She has lent her voice for several audio cassettes. Her latest album Rib Rib Malaya has recently hit the stands. The album contains eight melodious songs by Kabita. The music is appropriately arranged by JP Das, Ranjiv Das and Raj Kumar Rabidas. The album is produced by Jayanta Goswami. |
| Banikona enthrals Cooch Behar audience Banikona  Ghosal, the wellknown singer of the State, enthralled the audience recently at a cultural show held at Cooch Behar on the occasion of the Raas festival, organised by the Cooch Behar Municipality at MJN Stadium. The audience responded to the performance of Goalpariya Lokageet for more than an hour. Meanwhile, Ananda Bazar Patrika has highly appreciated her performance. Banikona Ghosal has been invited to present songs at the Nalbari Raas Mahotsav celebration on November 22. |
| Bihu albums ready Bohag Bihu, the festival dear to the Assamese people’s hearts, is still some months away, but the audio and video industry in Assam is agog with activity, with different productions under way. Singer-composer Kumar Bhabesh is ready with his latest offering, Dehajaan 2009, that also features Zubeen Garg. It’s after a long hiatus that these two singers are working together. The other singers in the album are Chayanika and Jinti. A video film by the same name is also ready to hit the market. Directed by Dhiraj Kashyap, with his own screenplay and dialogue, Dehajaan 2009 has in its cast an array of popular Assamese artistes including Mridula Barua, Barasharani Bishaya, Dinesh Das, Chetana Das, Khanjan Nath, Bakshi, Biki, Swagata Barua, among others. Bhagyashree Cine Production’s Dhulia Kakai is also almost complete. With popular dramatist Jiten Sarma’s story, screenplay and dialogue, the video film has been directed by Kalyan Dey, who is also the cinematographer. The artistes are Purabi Sarma, Hiranya Deka, Asha Bordoloi, Chandana Sarma, Bhargab Kotoky, Rupjyoti Das and Dilip. It has music and lyrics by Biman Barua, while the singers are Zubeen Garg, Bornali Kalita, Subashana Dutta, Kallol, Chayanika and Babu. |
Apurba Kumar Das