GUWAHATI, Oct 30 - Critically-acclaimed Assamese feature film Dikchow Banat Palaax, which was released on September 30 across theatres in Assam, has been selected for Indian Panorama at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) to be held from November 20.
IFFI is held in Goa in November annually and it attracts film aficionados from across the globe.
As per the official IFFI website, 26 feature films and 21 non-feature films (including the Best Feature and Best Non-Feature films from 63rd National Film Awards, 2015), distinguished by cinematic, thematic and aesthetic excellence will feature in the Indian Panorama. Out of the films selected for Indian Panorama, two will be nominated for the Competition Section of 47th International Film Festival of India.
Produced by Assam Film (Finance & Development) Corporation Ltd and Utpal Kumar Das of Canvascope, Dikchow Banat Palaax was written, scripted and directed by national award winning filmmaker Sanjib Sabhapandit. It is the only Assamese language film to be selected for Indian Panorama 2016.
�Selection to Indian Panorama is a very satisfying achievement. The selected films will represent the country as the bests of Indian cinema for one year all over the world. It will travel across the globe carrying a slice of Indian culture. This year the competition was very tough with films of giants like Adoor Gopalkrishnan, Girish Kasarvalli, etc., in the fray,� director Sanjib Sabhapandit said.
He added that the film has a wide human dimension and it is set in the backdrop of two culturally and anthropologically distinct people, although they are neighbours. �I believe, a refreshingly new story, a good script, superlative acting, brilliant camera work, authentic sound design and above all a very good team work that led to a good production design resulted in this glory,� he said.
Dikchow Banat Palaax explores the relationship of a freedom fighter and a Naga woman through decades of separation. Set in 1946, the film portrays the journey of a young Assamese man, who is banished from his home district by the British Empire, as he wanders to the Naga Hills. Love blooms and a Naga damsel gave him a few coins for his sustenance. But the love birds get separated, until the protagonist recollects memories of his past in the year 2000, when he decides to revisit the place just to return those coins to the lady.
Veteran actor Kulada Kumar Bhattacharjee is seen in a pivotal role in the feature film. Besides, Naga actress Lolenla Ao, Chikmik, and Mala Goswami also feature in the movie.
