| Film on Sankardev A full-length feature film on  Mahapurush Sankardev, titled Srimanta Sankardev was launched recently, produced by Paran Barbaruah, a Rajat Kamal Awardee and directed by Surya Hazarika. The muhurat, attended by Vaishnavite scholar Dr Naren Kalita, Sankar Sangha Padadhikar Karunakanta Kalita and dramatist Tarun Saikia, among others, was held on March 1 at Uzarachuk of Jamugurihat, where a traditional namghar was erected as a set by art director Golak Saha. Aditya Sankar Hazarika appeared at the muhurat shot in the role of Sankardev as a child. The story of the two-hour film is written by Dr Purnananda Saikia, with screenplay and dialogue by Mahendra Barthakur, Saila Barua, Sanjib Barkakati and Jyotiprasad Saikia. Prabhat Sarma is in charge of music. The cast includes Malaya Goswami, Prithiraj Rabha, among others. |
| New film Basundhara Basundhara, an Assamese feature film, produced and directed by Hiren Bora is nearing completion and the telecine has been sent to Mumbai. The story, depicting man-elephant relationship, is written by Bora himself. The cinematography is by Vivek Banerjee with Super-16 camera, used for the first time for Assamese film. Torali Sarma has scored the music. A large number of artistes, both veteran and young, are in the cast that includes Barasharani Bishaya, Bishnu Kharghoria, Saurabh Hazarika, Bhagawat Pritam, Prithiraj Rabha, Moitreyee Goswami, Bhranti Medhi, Rita Bora and child artistes Manas Pratim Chiranjiv and Mridusmita, with special appearance by Hiren Bora. Prasanta Bora and Rita Bora are incharge of set and costumes. The film is made under the banner of Surabhi Enterprises (TV and Film Division). |
| Albums of Holi songs Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev  was the first to initiate the observance of Holi at Bordowa by making a seven-stair Doul and composing Holi songs, which largely influenced the devotees to sing and dance during the celebrations. The second was Madhavdev, who also wrote such songs. The trend was followed in due course of time only at Barpeta, where celebrated lyricist-composers like Ambikagiri Raichoudhury, Khagendra Nath Das, etc, brought out their lyrical creations. With a view to popularising traditional Holi songs of Barpeta, a praiseworthy endeavour has been made by Ramen Das, an artiste himself, who has brought out two albums of such songs, one in Assamese (Ronge Ronge Ekakar) and the other in Hindi (Aaj Khele Holi). The albums include compositions of Sankardev, Prasannalal Choudhury, Gokul Pathak, Prahlad Das and Ramen Das. Ramen Choudhury is the music director. Debojit Saha has lent his voice for both the albums. The Hindi numbers are translated by singer Monoranjan Gogoi (who has also sung some songs) and Jahnabi Barthakur Saxena. The albums, worth listening and preserving, were released at a function by Dr Lakshyahira Das. |
| Moonlight awards As in previous years, Moonlight Media has arranged to award mobile theatre groups in different categories for the year 2008-09. The awardees will be declared in April from among the following nominations. Best group: Rajtilak Theatre, Srimanta Sankardev Theatre, Awahon Theatre, Ashirbad Theatre, Bordoichila Theatre, Rajashree Theatre, Kohinoor Theatre, Chitralekha Theatre, Hengool Theatre. Best drama: Shankaror Ajan, Ratnakar, Chabukor Daag, Monot Porene Arundhuti, Ajanite Bhangi Gole, Bukur Ghar and Pria. Best director: Munin Barua, Pranjit Das, Abhijit Bhattacharya, Pradip Nishith, Mridul Chutia, Champak Sarma, Rajesh Bhuyan and Debojit Sarma. Best actor: Mridul Chutia, Bhabesh Barua, Taufique Rehman, Mridul Bhuyan, Pradip Nishith, Champak Sarma, Rabi Sarma and Jatin Bora. Best actress: Aaimee Barua, Anita Chakravarty, Prastuti Parashar, Aditi Bhuyan and Girija Sarma. |
| Hindi video album A Hindi video album titled Watan  Walo Sunlo Pukar, with songs by classical singer Krishna Goswami, was released recently. This Auditek presentation contains five patriotic and devotional songs written by Jebin Masoom, Jurnail Singh and Nirmali Chakravarty. The camera work is by Biren Das and Ratul, under the direction of Tarun Das. The music is by Spandan Chakravarty. Proficient in bhajan, thumri, ghazal, Rabindra sangeet, etc, she was trained by her father Trailokya Nath Goswami, mother Amiya Goswami and gurus Paresh Roy, Ambalika Dutta, Pradip Brahma and husband advocate Gautam Sarma. Her bhajan video album Prabhu Tere Naam was well-received. |
| Dhulir Akash Composers Manjit-Digu made a mark with  their first creation itself. It was Niyarar Gadhuli, an album of Assamese modern songs in the voice of Angaraag Mahanta, who is known for his unique singing style. Their latest offering is Dhulir Akash, where too, Angaraag creates out some offbeat melodies. This Rainbow Creation album has music by Lyton and it is set for release soon. |
Apurba Kumar Das