New Delhi: An Assamese film starring acclaimed actors Victor Banerjee and Sanjay Suri is produced by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).
Another government body the Censor Board certifies it as an Assamese movie but state-appointed National Awards jury dismisses it as a non-Assamese work.
The film in question is Ekhon Nedekha Nadir Xipaare, directed by Bidyut Kotoky and also starring Raj Zutshi, Priti Jhangiani and Bidita Bag.
Incidentally, the film also has a Hindi version As the River Flows.
The decision has angered the film’s cast and crew as well as other members of the industry.
“I am flummoxed by the sheer absurdity of a National Jury watching an Assamese language film, directed by an Assamese, shot in Assam and then proclaiming it ‘not Assamese’. The entire nation is rather ignorant about the northeast and it is ridiculous circumstances like the one Bidyut Kotoky is confronting today that helps me understand why the northeast is up in arms, wanting for decades, to sever ties with the rest of India,” says Banerjee.
“I am ashamed at the high-handed arrogance of ignorance of a jury that has no business calling itself ‘national’. As the river flows is an important Assamese film with a message for all to ponder upon.”
The jury, headed by actor Rohini Hathangady, had Assamese filmmaker Hiren Bora as a member. According to Bora, “The jury was of the view that a major chunk of the film was shot in Mumbai and most of the dialogues were in Hindi.”
The North Eastern MPs’ Forum of which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is an important member is likely to take up the issue with Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni.
“What has happened is unfortunate. We are planning to meet Soniji on this issue later this month,” general secretary of the forum Birendra Prasad Baishya told PTI.
The film is a socio-political thriller and talks of social conflicts and individual commitments in an age where the society has become so self-centred.
The film’s cinematographer veteran Madhu Ambat says he can’t understand the logic behind the jury’s decision.
“It is not for a jury to decide what kind of a film it is. After all when the Censor Board has cleared it as an Assamese film, how can the jury reject it,” he asks.
Tweeted Suri, “Was shocked to learn that ‘As the River Flows’ directed by @bidyutkotoky and produced by NFDC was disqualified by the Hon Jury for… not being an Assamese film. I remember shooting the film in two languages. 28 days in Majuli in Assam.”
Zutshi and Bag recall how they learnt Assamese for it. “For weeks, I read, re-read and spoke the lines in Assamese. My fellow actors and I really worked hard on our Assamese. There was also an Assameseness in the way we uttered Hindi and English words in the film,” says Zutshi.
“I learnt Assamese for three months. Being a Bengali, it was not that difficult. Also I read Assamese novels and also a dictionary,” Bag says.
On the National Award fiasco, she says, “Whatever Hindi dialogues we spoke in the film was because the script demanded.” When contacted, NFDC GM Vikramjit Roy told PTI, “Please do connect with the competent authorities at the Directorate of Film Festivals.”
Noted filmmaker Jahnu Barua feels jury is a democratic process and a verdict as in the case of Ekhon .. is not acceptable.
“There is something definitely wrong with the jury. How can a jury, of which 10 of 11 members are non-Assamese can vouch whether a film is Assamese or not,” he said. (PTI)