GUWAHATI, Feb 19 - A documentary film Voice of Siang by filmmaker Joor Baruah was premiered at the Guwahati Town Club recently.
The 56-minute feature-length documentary film has been commissioned to Baruah as part of a prestigious fellowship by the Public Service Broadcasting Trust (PSBT), Prasar Bharati and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. The premiere of the film was done first at the Musup/Dere (Adi community house) of Rani village near Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh on February 12.
The documentary is about the Adi people and their unique culture and identity adorned with mythological chants (Abang) of origin (AboTani), their philosophy of revering Nature (DonyiPolo) and their democratic traditional courts (Kebang). It explores the impact of the land (territorial interest of China), water (mega dams on the Tsangpo as well as the Siang) and the Adi way of life.
The Pasighat screening was attended by Adi villagers, gaonburas, film participants and people related to Adi art and culture. Social activist and Adi elder Oshang Ering also attended the event.
The Guwahati screening was accompanied by talks given by anthropologist, ethnographer and writer Dr Jeuti Baruah, who was also the former director of the Law Research Institute and an expert on customary laws; and entrepreneur, publisher and geopolitical enthusiast Bhaskar Dutta Baruah, who is also the chief executive of Lawyer�s Book Stall.
The event was also attended by social activist and environmentalist Pradip Bhuyan and writer, poet and activist Tenzin Tsundue.