SHILLONG, July 24: A distinguished gathering of academics, artists, writers, students and government officials came together at the St. Edmund’s College Auditorium on Friday for the screening of Bhupen Da Uncut, a documentary paying tribute to legendary singer, composer and Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika.
The screening was organised by the Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research (C-NES) in association with St. Edmund’s College, Shillong.
The documentary, directed by Bobbeeta Sharma and produced by Chinmoy Sharma, was filmed in England in 1999 and offers an intimate portrayal of Hazarika’s life, music and philosophy through rare footage and conversations.
The programme was inaugurated by Principal Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya Frederick Roy Kharkongor in the presence of a distinguished audience comprising members of the academic community, cultural personalities, students, civil servants and admirers of Bhupen Hazarika’s enduring legacy. Former Meghalaya Education Minister Manas Chaudhuri and The Shillong Times Editor Patricia Mukhim were also present at the event.
The screening was followed by an interactive session with director Bobbeeta Sharma, moderated by C-NES Founder and Managing Trustee Sanjoy Hazarika.
During the discussion, the filmmaker shared memories of documenting Hazarika during his visit to England and reflected on the making of the film, the relevance of his music across generations and the importance of preserving archival material on one of the Northeast’s greatest cultural icons, who was bestowed with the country’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, for his contribution to the cultural sector.
The event served as a tribute to Bhupen Hazarika’s immense contribution to music, literature and social thought, with speakers recalling how his songs transcended linguistic and geographical boundaries while giving voice to the hopes and struggles of ordinary people across the region and the country.
