Assamese Film 'Kumu' Bags The Award For Best Short Film at Kerala's SiGNS Film Festival

Guwahati: Assamese short film 'Kumu - The Song Of A Wingless Bird' directed by debutant filmmaker Akanshya Bhagabati bagged the prestigious John Abraham National Award for Best Short Feature at the 15th edition of the renowned SiGNS Film Festival in Kerala.

The SiGNS Film Festival is organized by the Federation of Film Societies of India – Keralam and it happens to be a pioneering festival that features national-level competition for documentaries and short fiction for the esteemed John Abraham National Awards. The award carries a citation, a trophy and a cash prize of Rs 50,000.

Akanshya Bhagabati, who has previously worked as an assistant director in Parthajit Baruah's The Children of God, has said that she was overwhelmed with the honour.

She has also said that she is not professionally trained in this field but added that the story which she has portrayed on the big screen holds a special place in her life and her love for the story has driven her to turn it into a film. 

The first time director concluded by saying that if one has a passion for good cinema, then nothing can stop him from making a film.

Set against the lush green tea gardens of Assam, the film revolves around the life of a 12-year-old Adivasi girl, Kumu, who was compelled to give up her education and carefree life due to family circumstances.

The film throws light on Adivasi children living in the tea gardens of Assam and it depicts how they are deprived of their childhood happiness and hopes, beauty and parental care and are even forbidden from dreaming of a life beyond their predetermined fate.

Chida Bora is the cinematographer of the film and has worked previously in Jaicheng Jai Dohutia's National Award-winning film Haanduk-The Hidden Corner.

Tarali Sarma, the prominent singer who has won the national award, happens to be the music director of the film. National Award-winning sound designer Debajit Gayan was responsible for the sound design of the film while Color Grading was done by Suraj Duara, who directed the National Award-winning film Orang. The film is edited by Hirak Jyoti Pathak.

Nayanmoni Mura played the character of KUMU and the entire film was shot in Dhontula Tea Estate near Nagaon.

It is worth noting that Akanshya is pursuing Mass Communication and Journalism at Tezpur University and is in her final year.

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