Parthajit Baruah

Last updated
Parthajit Baruah
Known forBooks, Films
Notable workFace to Face: The Cinema of Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Jyotiprasad Joymoti Indramalati and Beyond: History of Assamese Cinema; The Nellie Story (Nellier Kotha)
Website https://parthajitbaruah.com/

Parthajit Baruah is a film historian and practitioner known for his in-depth academic contributions and cinematic works. He has authored several scholarly books on cinema, including Face to Face: The Cinema of Adoor Gopalakrishnan (2016). His research extends to significant projects on Assamese cinema, undertaken at the National Film Archive of India, where he has contributed to preserving and documenting the region's cinematic heritage. As a filmmaker, Baruah has directed 13 documentaries and a feature film, The Nellie Story (2023), focusing on socio-political themes, showcasing his commitment to addressing critical issues through visual storytelling. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Books and films

Baruah's another book Jyotiprasad Joymoti Indramalati and Beyond: History of Assamese Cinema deals with the life and works of Jyotiprasad Agarwala, one of the pioneers of Indian cinema. His another book A History of India’s North-East Cinema is all set for publication. This book addresses the peripheral status and identity crisis of North-Eastern people in mainland India, a region that comprises eight states, and examines the role of Bollywood in the construction and misrepresentation of this region in popular Hindi cinema. [5] [6]

Baruah's documentary The Dhemaji Tragedy, about a bombing on August 15, 2004, by militant group United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) at Dhemaji parade ground was appreciated in several film festivals. [7]

Baruah's debut feature film Nellier Kotha(The Nellie Story) takes a humanizing look at the Nellie massacre, a dark chapter in the socio-political history of Assam. [8] [9] [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Liberation Front of Asom</span> Rebel organisation operating in state of Assam, India

The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) is an armed militant organisation operating in the Northeast Indian state of Assam. It seeks to establish an independent sovereign nation state of Assam for the indigenous Assamese people through an armed struggle in the Assam conflict. The Government of India banned the organisation in 1990 citing it as a terrorist organisation, while the United States Department of State lists it under "other groups of concern".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lachit Borphukan</span> Commander in the Ahom kingdom

Lachit Borphukan was an army general, primarily known for commanding the Ahom Army and the victory in the Battle of Saraighat (1671) that thwarted an invasion by the vastly superior Mughal Forces under the command of Ramsingh I. He died about a year later in April 1672.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adoor Gopalakrishnan</span> Indian film director (born 1941)

Adoor Gopalakrishnan is an Indian film director, script writer, and producer and is regarded as one of the most notable and renowned filmmakers in India. With the release of his first feature film Swayamvaram (1972), Gopalakrishnan pioneered the new wave in Malayalam cinema during the 1970s. In a career spanning over five decades, Gopalakrishnan has made only 12 feature films to date. His films are made in the Malayalam language and often depict the society and culture of his native state Kerala. Nearly all of his films premiered at Venice, Cannes and Toronto International Film Festival. Along with Satyajit Ray and Mrinal Sen, Gopalakrishnan is one of the most recognized Indian film directors in world cinema.

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

Barua is a common Assamese surname shared by the Assamese communities much like Aroras of Punjab.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jyoti Prasad Agarwala</span> Writer, poet, Musician and filmmaker from Assam, India

Jyoti Prasad Agarwala was a noted Indian playwright, songwriter, poet, writer and film maker from Assam. He was deeply revered for his creative vision and output and is popularly called the Rupkonwar of Assamese culture. In fact, he is regarded as the founder of Assamese cinema for Joymoti (1935). His death anniversary is observed as Silpi divas his honor.

<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.

Joymoti Konwari was the wife of Ahom prince Gadapani. She died at the hands of the royalists under Sulikphaa Loraa Roja without disclosing her exiled husband Gadapani's whereabouts in the Naga Hills, thereby enabling her husband to rise in revolt and assume kingship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paresh Baruah</span> Assamese insurgency leader

Paresh Baruah, also known by the alias Paresh Asom is an Indian separatist militant who is the army chief of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), which is seeking Independence for Assam from the Indian Union. He is the vice-chairperson and the commander-in-chief of the United Liberation Front of Assam – Independent. Baruah lives in Yunnan, China where he receives funding and patronage from the Chinese Ministry of State Security (China). He has also insisted that Han Chinese are friends of the Assamese and want to help them become independent, even though his influence has largely diminished.

<i>Joymoti</i> (1935 film) 1935 Indian film

Joymoti is a 1935 Indian film widely considered to be the first Assamese film ever made. Based on Lakshminath Bezbaroa's play about the 17th-century Ahom princess Joymoti Konwari, the film was produced and directed by the noted Assamese poet, author, and film-maker Jyoti Prasad Agarwala, and starred Aideu Handique and acclaimed stage actor and playwright Phani Sarma. The film, shot between 1933 and 1935, was released by Chitralekha Movietone on 10 March 1935 1935 and marked the beginning of Assamese cinema.

<i>Indramalati</i> 1939 Indian film

Indramalati is a 1939 film directed by the Assamese poet Jyotiprasad Agarwala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mrinal Hazarika</span>

Mrinal Hazarika alias Plaban Phukan is the ex-commander of the 28th Battalion of ULFA, the banned revolutionary organisation of Assam. He was instrumental in leading the ‘A’ and ‘C’ company of the battalion to announce a ceasefire.

<i>Tora</i> (film) 2004 Indian film

Tora is an Assamese language children's film directed by Jahnu Barua and produced by the Children's Film Society, India. The film was released in 2004. The film received the Best Children's Film award in the 51st National Film Awards for the year 2003.

Aideu is an Assamese film produced by the Nagaon-based organization Trinayan Media Foundation and directed by Arup Manna. It was released at the Mumbai International Film Festival on 8 February 2007 and screened at the Pune International Film Festival, Delhi Habitat Film Fest and the 25th Munich International Film Festival. The film was shot in 16 mm format with a modest budget of Rs 1,600,000.

Samiran Barua Ahi Ase is a 2012 Indian Assamese-language political film directed by Prodyut Kumar Deka and produced by Deka and Mrinal Das under Arc Lights. It is based on a story by journalist Manoj Kumar Goswami. The music was composed by journalist Atanu Bhuyan. The film released in 2012 revolves around the realization of a leader of a terrorist organization and consist of an Anthology of four short stories revolving around him. It is a first attempt of making an anthology films in Assamese cinema.

<i>Kanchanjangha</i> 2019 Indian Assamese film by Zubeen Garg

Kanchanjangha: Rise is a 2019 Indian Assamese-language action drama film directed by Zubeen Garg and produced by Zubeen Garg, Garima Saikia Garg and Shyamantak Gautam under the banner of "Eye Creation Productions" and "Zeal Creations". The film features Zubeen Garg in lead role and Pabitra Rabha, Pinky Sharma, Sasanka Samir in supporting roles. Zubeen Garg wrote the story and screenplay for the film.

Tapan Baruah was the first Commander of 28th Battalion of ULFA. Killed on 20 May 2002, Tapan Baruah was widely known as a skilled hardcore militant in guerrilla warfare in the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom.

References

  1. NewsDesk, T. N. M. (2022-01-04). "How Assam's Jyotiprasad Agarwala almost became India's first filmmaker". thenewsmill.com. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  2. Bhuyan, Kalpajyoti (2023-07-18). "'The Nellie Story': Parthajit Baruah's film brings a human face to a historical tragedy of Assam". NORTHEAST NOW. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  3. Baruah, Parthajit (2016-07-28). "Adoor Gopalakrishnan: 'Cinema is the greatest art form the human mind has given shape to'". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  4. Zaman, Rokibuz (2018-10-31). "Emerging Trends in Assamese Cinema: From Local Kung Fu to Village Rockstars". thenewsmill.com. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  5. Baruah, Parthajit. "A History of India's North-East Cinema". bloomsbury.com/.
  6. Bhuyan, Kalpa Jyoti (2022-01-02). "A book that takes Assamese cinema's Jyotiprasad Agarwala to India and beyond". EastMojo. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  7. Ravi, Archana (2016-12-15). "Braving ULFA, threats to life". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  8. HIMALAYAN VELOCITY (2024-07-20). The Nellie Story || Parthajit Baruah . Retrieved 2024-10-14 via YouTube.
  9. "NELLIER KOTHA ( THE NELLIE STORY)". AIFF. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  10. Bhuyan, Kalpajyoti (2023-07-18). "'The Nellie Story': Parthajit Baruah's film brings a human face to a historical tragedy of Assam". NORTHEAST NOW. Retrieved 2024-10-14.