GUWAHATI: Film festivals are considered as an important platform for the preservation and exhibition of our heritage and the Chalachitram National Film Festival (CNFF) is one such platform whose motto and central theme reflect a similar ethos.
The two-day festival, which concluded recently in the city, showcased a variety of films and documentaries by emerging as well as established filmmakers.
The 7th edition of CNFF started off with the ceremonial lamp lighting by Piyush Roy, Professor and Founding Dean, School of Film, Media and Creative Arts at R.V University, Bengaluru.
Noted film director Utpal Datta expressed elation at witnessing the festival's influence in inspiring a new generation of filmmakers to delve into their rich cultural history and artfully weave both fictional and factual narratives around it.
Veteran filmmaker and Advisory Board member, Rahul Rawail shared invaluable insights from his early days spent in R.K. Studios, where he learnt the ropes of filmmaking from the legendary Raj Kapoor, to his own independent works, also offering guidance on techniques to budding filmmakers.
Following the session, he unveiled Prantik Deka's book 'Past Revisited', a literary exploration of Assamese cinema. Prior to the screening of films, the audience was treated to a dance video interpretation of Vande Mataram, which was choreographed, and edited by the well-known Satriya dancer Prerona Bhuyan.
The opening film of the two-day event was the National Award-winning filmmaker cum cinematographer Rajendra Janglay's documentary 'Durga Chitra Shala', which is based on the life and works of the Padma Shri awardee Durgabai Vyam, renowned for her pioneering works in the Pardhan-Gond tradition of tribal art of Madhya Pradesh.
An insightful interactive session was also held among the students of Bhupen Hazarika Film and TV Institute, film enthusiasts and Dr Piyush Roy, exploring future-oriented topics and emerging technologies such as AI, and the pros and cons of filmmaking in the Digital Age, among other things. The session was moderated by Indrani Laskar and Ratan Sil Sarma. The non-competition panorama included the premiere screening of 'Prabahini', directed by the vice-president of the Chalachitram Society, Prabal Khaund.
A 3-member Chalachitram Grand Jury conferred the Best Film award upon Dhrubajit Baishya's 'Kameez'.
Biswajit Das won the Best Director award for 'March', while Gunjan Kashyap's 'Home Brews: Struggles for a Tradition' bagged the Best Screenplay award. Rajveer Pardeshi's performance in 'Chirbhog' was recognised with a Jury Special Mention for Best Child Actor. The award for Best Cinematography was received by Sumedha Bhattacharyya for her mesmerizing visuals in 'Mau: The Spirit Dreams of Cheraw'.
Pranab Sarmah's 'Mukha: The Mask' bagged the award for Best Film from NE India. The film, says jury member Meghachandra Kongbam, "highlights the rich tradition of Mukha art in Assam, which was introduced by the 15th century saint and cultural icon Srimanta Sankardev in the performance of Bhaona".
In addition to the Grand Jury Awards, House of Illusions - an indie film studio, set up an independent jury comprising of sound designer Debajit Changmai and RV University professors Meera Baindur and Deepa Ganesh. Hira Das' 'Kaankhowa' won the House of Illusions Award for Best Short Fiction Film by a Woman Director.
Bobbeeta Sharma's 40-minute long autobiographical documentary 'Jnanada: Reflections of Light and Shade', which traces the cinematic journey of one of the most versatile, graceful and charismatic actresses of Assamese cinema, Jnanada Kakati, won the House of Illusions Award for Best Documentary by a Woman Director.
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