"Ore Raati", an Assamese song (subtitled in English) released recently, has created a stir in the cultural and social space. Composed and sung by a popular artist from Assam, Abhishruti Bezbaruah, the music video has caught the attention of many not just for the upbeat, foot-tapping music but more for soul-searching content, the social message that Abhishruti is conveying through her music video.
The contents of the song are inspired by the real-life experiences of transgender people. The song with happy, peppy music narrates the struggles of a community that has been excluded from mainstream society and are rarely considered as part of the society. 'Ore Raati' addresses the Transgender people's internal struggle, their constant fight for survival, and fight to overcome the loneliness, the several fits of abuse that often have scarred them for life.
"This video will now make people more comfortable to talk about transgender, about the difference between gender and sexuality. I am sure this video will encourage people to talk about things like incest and other things which people avoid talking about as if these things do not happen," Milin Dutta, founder of Anaajoree and a transgender activist said. Dutta thanked Abhishruti and her team for highlighting the issue and cause of the transgender community.
"It is an honest effort to bring the issue of transgenders under the spotlight and dedication to the transgender community all over the world. "Ore Raati" urges the society to embrace the LGBTQIA+ community, for the society to educate themselves and to empower trans people," Abhishruti said.
"Ore Raati" features an empowered Assamese Trans woman Janvi Borkakoti who is currently based in New Delhi working for a European IT consulting firm. The cast of the video features legendary actor of Assam, National awardee Malaya Goswami, Bijit Kumar Das along with Abhishruti and Tanets Twins Dimpi - Simpi.
"Abhishruti has established herself in the cultural scene of Assam in a very short time. She has been experimenting with several genres and Ore Raati's subject is something that most people would not like to take as a subject released. This is a topic that is not openly discussed. This video has brought the topic into public discourse. The song, music, acting, light, direction everything including the topic is great," Partha Sarathi Mahanta, DIGP, Assam Police said commenting on the music video.
"The most important part of the video is not about the catchy tune which is beautiful in itself but it is more about the social message that is being conveyed through the video. We have lived in a world of exclusion for a very long time and a sensitive issue like transgender or LGBTQ or trans-sexuality is very important and should be gotten into the mainstream. Abhishruti has broken all barriers and has been able to beautifully portray the entire narrative of the struggles of transgender people. Whoever watches this video will get an impactful message," Miguel Das, Child Rights Activist and Founder of Utsah Child Rights Organisation said after watching the video.
Abhishruti hopes her message for inclusion and embracement of trans people reaches a wide audience not only in Assam but all over India. Conceptualized and realized by Abhishruti, the song has been directed and shot by Raktim Hazarika. The audio production has been done by Anupam Konwar and the lyrics have been penned by Kalpana Bhuyan.
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