Ekhon Nedekha Nodir Xhipare

Last updated

Ekhon Nedekha Nodir Xhipare
Ekhon Nedekha Nodir Xhipare Poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Bidyut Kotoky
Written byBidyut Kotoky
Produced by National Film Development Corporation of India
Starring Sanjay Suri
Bidita Bag
Victor Banerjee
Nakul Vaid
Raj Zutshi
Naved Aslam
Preeti Jhangiani
Cinematography Madhu Ambat
Edited by Rajesh Parmar
Music by Zubeen Garg
Release date
  • 14 September 2012 (2012-09-14)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryIndia
Languages Assamese
Hindi

Ekhon Nedekha Nodir Xhipare (English: On the other bank of the unseen river) is a 2012 Assamese language socio-political thriller film, [1] with some dialogue in Hindi, starring Sanjay Suri and Bidita Bag in the lead roles. It was directed by Bidyut Kotoky and produced by National Film Development Corporation of India. The film was simultaneously made in Hindi as As the river flows .

Contents

The story was inspired by the kidnapping of activist Sanjoy Ghosh, who was first abducted in 1997 from the island Majuli in Assam supposed to be by the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and subsequently killed. [2] A controversy developed when it got rejected by the jury of the 59th National Film Awards in the category of best Assamese film for being "not Assamese". [3]

Plot

Sridhar Ranjan, a social activist, has gone missing from Majuli, Assam. After almost seven years, when as per law he is about to be officially declared dead, his old journalist friend Abhijit Shandilya (Sanjay Suri) goes in search of Sridhar from Mumbai to Majuli. In Majuli, Abhijit finds himself to be a stranger of sorts in a place that's infested with terrorists and where both the police and the terrorists seem to be suspicious of him. He befriends his local guide Sudakshina (Bidita Bag). Sudakshina apparently was the guide for Sridhar when he came to Majuli initially. She, however, seems to be living with her own fears and stops short of getting close to Abhijit whenever an occasion comes up. The rest of the story revolves around Abhijit trying to solve the mystery behind the disappearance of Sridhar.

Cast

Production

Bidyut Kotoky, the director of Ekhon Nedekha Nodir Xhipare, said that the story has nothing to do with the disappearance of Sanjay Ghose and it is not based on his life. According to him, "if a person like Sanjay Ghose existed, then somebody like Sridhar Ranjan – the protagonist of my film – could also have existed in Majuli. True, the film is inspired by the unfortunate disappearance of Sanjay Ghose – but inspiration ends there. The entire story is totally fictitious..." [4]

The film was shot in Assam's Majuli river island, Jorhat and Mumbai. [5]

The film features a poem recitation by Dr. Bhupen Hazarika. [2] [6] It was recorded on 10 February 2010 and featured on the opening. [4] In Bidyut Kotoky's words, "The poem represents the voice of the river Brahmaputra through the voice of the music maestro. Late Hazarika is known for his passion for the mighty river and is called the 'Bard of Brahmaputra'. So, when I needed someone to represent the voice of the river in my film, I immediately decided to approach Dr. Hazarika. ... He was ailing and not well when I approached him for recording the recitation for the film. However, he agreed to lend his voice and we finally recorded the recitation in February 2010."

The music was composed by Zubeen Garg and cinematography was done by veteran cinematographer Madhu Ambat. [6]

Release

The film was released on 14 September 2012 in 9 theatres [7] across Assam. [2] [6] Its first public screening of was held on 29 July 2012 at 12th Osian's Cinefan Film Festival held in New Delhi. [4] [8] It was screened by the cultural affairs department of the Maharashtra government on 8 September 2012 in Mumbai to mark Bhupen Hazarika’s birth anniversary. [2]

Reception

Critical reception

The film received generally positive reviews. Utpal Borpujari said that Bidyut Kotoky made a "promising debut." [9] Film writer Arunlochan Das rated Ekhon Nedekha Nodir Xhipare to be a "good film based on reality." [7] Seven Sisters Post praised the acting of Raj Zutshi and said that the film is "an honest attempt to tell the truth."

Awards and accolades

Bidyut Kotoky won Best Screenplay award for Ekhon Nedekha Nodir Xhipare in the Assam State Film Awards for 2010–2012, which was presented on 10 March 2013 at Machkhowa, Guwahati. Jeevan Initiative, a voluntary trust from Assam, included the film in its list of 'Special 10 of the year 2012 for Assam' and cited, "this cinema aesthetically unveils an almost forgotten story of our recent political history." [10]

Ekhon Nedekha Nodir Xhipare was selected for screening in the second edition of the Washington DC South Asian Film Festival held from 10 May 2013. [11] The film was awarded for the Best Script and Best Actor at the same festival. [12] The film won the Audience Choice Award at the North Carolina International South Asian Film Festival (NCISAFF) for 2014. [13]

Controversy

Ekhon Nedekha Nodir Xhipare was sent to compete in the category of best Assamese film in 59th National Film Awards. But the 11-member jury, led by Rohini Hattangadi, rejected the film for "lack of cultural purity". [3] [14] Assamese filmmaker Hiren Bora, one of the jury members, said that, "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." This led to a controversy since the official censorship authority in India had already certified the film as Assamese.[ citation needed ] A public-interest litigation was filed by enajori.com, a socio-cultural organisation that promotes cultural heritage of Assam, against the jury's decision. [15] [16] In response to the plea the Delhi High Court issued a notice to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Directorate of Film Festivals, the Central Board of Film Certification, Rohini Hattangadi (chairperson of Feature Film section), and Hiren Bora. [17]

After examining the documents submitted for the selection of regional films, the High Court dismissed the plea. The proceedings revealed that Ekhon Nedekha Nodir Xhipare, and other films from the eastern region, were previewed and rejected by the jury. The court imposed costs of ₹2,000 (US$24) on the petitioner for moving to the court without ascertaining the facts of the case. [18]

An online campaign was created to support the film. [14] Many film personalities, such as Nandita Das, Amol Gupte, Rajesh Parmar, Adil Hussain etc. have pledged support to the campaign. [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bhupen Hazarika</span> Indian playback singer (1926–2011)

Bhupen Hazarika was an Indian playback singer, lyricist, musician, poet, actor, artist, editor, filmmaker, professor and politician from Assam, widely known as Sudha Kontho. His songs were written and sung mainly in the Assamese language by himself, are marked by humanity and universal brotherhood and have been translated and sung in many languages, most notably in Bengali and Hindi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Assamese cinema</span>

Assamese cinema is the Indian film industry of Assamese language. It is based in Assam, India. The industry was born in 1935 when Jyoti Prasad Agarwala released his movie Joymoti. Since then the Assamese cinema has developed a slow-paced, sensitive style. In the beginning the industry were called Jollywood, for Agarwala's Jyoti Chitraban Film Studio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jahnu Barua</span> Indian film director

Jahnu Barua is an Indian film director. He has written and directed a number of Assamese and Hindi films. Some of his notable films are Halodhia Choraye Baodhan Khai (1987), Firingoti (1992), Xagoroloi Bohu Door (1995), Maine Gandhi Ko Nahi Mara (2005), Konikar Ramdhenu (2003), Baandhon (2012), and Ajeyo (2014).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jayanta Hazarika</span> Musical artist

Jayanta Hazarika was an Indian singer and composer associated with Assamese music. He wrote lyrics for a few songs and composed music for several movies. He was the younger brother of Bhupen Hazarika.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sanjoy Ghose</span> Indian activist

Sanjoy Ghose was an Indian rural development activist known for his pioneering contributions to community health and development media. He is believed to have been killed by United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) militants in the river island of Majuli on the Brahmaputra river around 4 July 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zerifa Wahid</span> Indian actress

Zerifa Wahid is an Indian actress known for her works in Assamese films. Her prominent features include Baandhon, which won the 60th National Film Awards for Best Feature Film in Assamese directed by Jahnu Baruah. and the best film in the Indian Films Competition held at the Bengaluru International Film Festival for the year 2012.

Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Regional Government Film and Television Institute, formerly known as the Jyoti Chitraban Film and Television Institute, is the only government-owned film institute in northeastern India located at Sila, Changsari in Assam. It was named after Jyoti Prasad Agarwala, the first Assamese film director and producer. The Jyoti Chitraban Film Studio was established in the year of 1961 by the Government of Assam. The Film Institute was set up at the same Studio premises using the same infrastructure in the year 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Ankan Deka</span> Indian musician

Jim Ankan Deka is an Indian musician, documentary film maker, photographer and director of Bangalore based organisation and music school Eastern Fare Music Foundation. He is the first person from Assam to open a music institute and a production house in Bangalore, India. He won multiple awards for his song Aawaz - speak up against sexual violence based on the 2012 Delhi gang rape incident.

<i>Kothanodi</i> 2015 Indian film

Kothanodi is an Indian Assamese language feature film written and directed by Bhaskar Hazarika and stars Seema Biswas, Adil Hussain, Zerifa Wahid, Urmila Mahanta, Kopil Bora and Asha Bordoloi. The story of the film is based on traditional indigenous folktales from Assam, India.

Mayukh Hazarika is an Indian playback singer and music director from Assam. He is the frontman of Delhi based band Mayukh Hazarika and the Brahmaputra Balladeers. He is the son of legendary Assamese musician duo Jayanta Hazarika and Manisha Hazarika and nephew of Dr Bhupen Hazarika.

Prodyut Kumar Deka is an Indian film & stage director, screenwriter and author residing in Assam, India. His films include Dhunia Tirutabur, Samiran Barua Ahi Ase, Surjasta, Borosi, Chiyahir Rong, Ji Golpor Ses Nai and The Government Servant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anindita Paul</span> Indian singer

Anindita Paul is an Indian singer who sings predominantly in Assamese, Bengali and Hindi languages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yeshe Dorjee Thongchi</span> Indian writer

Yeshe Dorjee Thongchi is an Assamese writer. He was formerly deputy commissioner. His first literary creation is a poem named Junbai'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guwahati International Film Festival</span>

The Guwahati International Film Festival (GIFF) is an annual film festival held in Guwahati, Assam, India. The State Government-owned Jyoti Chitraban (Film Studio) Society organised the festival in association with the Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Regional Government Film and Television Institute. The first ever Guwahati International Film Festival (GIFF) to be held in northeast India, which will be inaugurated on 28 October 2017 by Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. The Assam government supported festival began on 28 October with screening of the Oscar winning ‘The Salesman’, directed by Asghar Farhadi and produced by a joint collaboration of Iran and France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chalachitram National Film Festival</span> Annual film festival in Assam, India

Chalachitram National Film Festival (CNFF) is a festival conducted in Guwahati, Assam. The festival director is Utpal Datta, a National Film Award-winning film critic and film maker.

Surjya Kanta Hazarika is an Assamese litterateur, an eminent scholar, author, journalist, poet, publisher, playwright, lyricist, composer, cultural activist, feature film and documentary maker, social worker and philanthropist. Hazarika is a recipient of the Padma Shri Award in 2008 for his contribution to Literature & Education. He is the current president of Asam Sahitya Sabha.

<i>Piyoli Phukan</i> (1955 film) 1955 Indian film

Piyoli Phukan is a black & white Assamese language film directed by Phani Sarma, released in 1955. The film is based on the life and struggle of a historical character of Assam, Piyoli Phukan, son of Badan Borphukan, who revolted against British occupation. He was sentenced to death and hanged in 1830 at Jorhat. The film is produced by Gama Prasad Agarwalla under the banner of Rupjyoti Productions, Tezpur, Assam. Music is composed by Bhupen Hazarika. Piyoli Phukan is the first Assamese film, which got national recognition. The film was honoured by the Certificate of Merit in State Awards, 1956.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sudakshina Sarma</span> Indian singer (1934–2023)

Sudakshina Sarma was an Indian Assamese language singer and musician. In a career spanning over seven decades, Sarma recorded songs in a variety of genres across Assamese music spanning both classical and modern including Borgeet, Kamrupi Lokgeet, and Goalpariya Lokogeet. She also popularized Jyoti Sangeet, songs written by Assamese writer and lyricist Jyoti Prasad Agarwala and also Rabindra Sangeet.

References

  1. ↑ "NFDC releases Ekhon Nedekha Nodir Xipare". The Assam Tribune . Guwahati. 12 September 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Bidyut Kotoky's "Akhon Nedekha Nodir Sipare" releases on Friday". Dear Cinema. 14 September 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  3. 1 2 Jena, Alipta (18 March 2012). "What does it take to be Assamese? - Film's rejection sparks strong reactions". The Telegraph . Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 Kotoky, Bidyut (25 August 2010). "Notes from Bidyut" . Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  5. ↑ Das, Gaurav (12 September 2012). "Film on futility of violence to hit screens soon". The Times of India . Guwahati. TNN. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 "Assamese singer Bhupen Hazarika to come alive on-screen". ndtv.com. Guwahati. Indo-Asian News Service. 13 September 2012. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  7. 1 2 Gani, Abdul (14 September 2012). "Ekhon Nedekha Nodir Xipare a hit with Assamese audience". Seven Sisters Post . Guwahati. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. ↑ "12th Osian's Cinefan Film Festival - Schedule". Osian's Cinematic Pvt. Ltd. 2012. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  9. ↑ Borpujari, Utpal (30 December 2012). "North-East cinemas: Interesting times (Deep Focus Cinema magazine)" . Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  10. ↑ "Jeevan's SPECIAL 10 OF THE YEAR for ASSAM". Jeevan Initiative. 30 March 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  11. ↑ Das, Gaurav (29 March 2013). "Assam film sets date with Washington fest". The Times of India . Guwahati. TNN. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  12. ↑ "Assamese film bags awards at US fest". The Times of India . May 2013. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013.
  13. ↑ "Victor Banerjee starrer wins audience choice award in US fest". The Indian Express. 19 March 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2016. "The Audience Choice Award for 2014 goes to 'As River Flows'. It was beautifully done," North Carolina International South Asian Film Festival director Gauri Singh informed the film's director Bidyut Kotoky.
  14. 1 2 3 Jena, Alipta (10 April 2012). "Support for film termed 'non-Assamese'". The Telegraph . Kolkata. Jena, Alipta. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  15. ↑ Jena, Alipta (19 April 2012). "PIL disputes jury tag on Assamese film". The Telegraph . Kolkata. Archived from the original on 20 February 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  16. ↑ "Court notice to government over Assamese film". New Delhi. Indo-Asian News Service. 18 April 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  17. ↑ Press Trust of India (19 April 2012). "Explain reasons for rejecting Assamese film at National Awards: High Court". New Delhi. NDTV. Archived from the original on 27 April 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  18. ↑ Press Trust of India (25 April 2012). "Court rejects plea for quashing the jury's decision in National Awards". New Delhi. NDTV . Retrieved 11 June 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.