Begin typing your search above and press return to search.

Srimanta Sankardeva drawing huge crowds

By Staff reporter

GUWAHATI, May 28 � The feature film Srimanta Sankaradeva, made on the life and contributions of the great Vaishnavite saint of Assam Mahapurush Sankaradeva, has been drawing crowds of viewers all over the State. The film was released in the city�s Vandana Cinema on March 10 and it was released at several other places like Jorhat, Barpeta etc subsequently.

Maker of the film Surya Hazarika told this newspaper, after a special show of the film for the legendary musician Dr Bhupen Hazarika at the Vandana Cinema, on Thursday morning that the initial disappointment caused by low turn out has now been overcome. Significantly, the year marks the 75th anniversary of the first Assamese film Joymoti made by Rupkonwar Jyoti Prasad Agarwalla.

The film is produced by noted producer Paran Barbora. Dr Purnananda Saikia has written the story for the film on the basis of the Gurucharitas, while Surya Hazarika has written the screenplay and composed the music, besides directing the film.

The roles of Sankaradeva in three stages were played by Arindam Bora, Aditya Sankar Hazarika and Dilip Kumar Barua. Noted actress Moloya Goswami played the role of Khersuti, the grand mother of Sankara.

However, the limitations faced by Hazarika in writing the screenplay due to his depending more on a simple narrative style to make the film more comprehensive for the common viewers, the film has faced problems in narrating the life and works of the great saint in a desired cinematic style. The treatment meted out by the directors concerned to the stories of the Adi Sankaracharya and Gandhi, among others, is missing here, despite the life and works of the great saint having the potential to make the film a great one.

Surya Hazarika told this newspaper that he was planning for the film since 1991 and for the past two years, he was actively involved in making it.

Viewing the film, Bhupen Hazarika said that he had a strong desire to the view the film and now that desire has been fulfilled. He also termed the film as the best Assamese film of the current century.

The noted artiste, who needed to be carried to the cinema hall on a wheelchair, said that people should view the film and even the Government should also come forward to sponsor such films.

Actor Dilip Barua who played the role of Sankara in his heydays, said that this was a fantastic role for him, while Prithiviraj Rava, who played the role of King Naranarayana, said that he was highly excited with the role.

Next Story