All do Scream, But don't Listen !!

#LONG_SHOT , My Column. A write-up on so-called cultural activists in Assam. See, when you have a problem and you are in a situation that does not allow to take any vibrant step, then it's time to think relaxedly, discuss with concerned people and then move forward. But here in Assamese Film industry, when the industry is in trouble due to many negative aspects and the existence of the industry is at risk, all the people related to it should make collective effort to overcome this phase. But unfortunately,most of the cultural activists and concerned people here are showing irresponsibility and indulging in blame game only. It seems they all are screaming keeping in mind only their personal scores instead of thinking about the future of the industry. (Published in Asomiya Khabar, 29 sept 2013)

Enthralling Presence, in Assam Tribune

These days, it seems there is nothing else for the people interested in Assamese art & cultural to enjoy and experience except Mobile Theatre. And hence, once again spectators are showing overwhelmed response and love, as before, towards this medium of entertainment in different parts of the state. From this mid-august, almost every troupe has started their journey with new thoughts and new expectations. But when each and every troupe keeping on demanding their superiority over the others and arguing in favour of their dramas, the common spectators find some of the plays really heart-touching and worth-watch. And their anxious expressions through different medium drawing the attention of others too. Same happened in my case too as i heard a lot about some of those plays and finally got the privilege to watch two of them, one is the much-hyped drama of this season, i.e, Maharani and another is ‘Avinetri’. Both the dramas are of Rajtilak Theatre, a popular and leading mobile theatre troupe which got applauds from masses within a very short period by the grace of some high-pitched drama and inclusion of some powerful actors, of course. Like yesteryears, the troupe again has already created a buzz among the masses with its projected drama of this year, i.e. ‘Maharani’, a play written by Abhijeet Bhattacharya. And need not to mention here again that the centre of attraction of Rajtilak, in this season has been the most powerful and popular actress of the state in this time, Prostuti Parashar. The hype created by the troupe and the leading lady were the main attraction that has led me to Rajtilak’s auditorium. Watching Maharani was really a good experience as it got every commercial element, full of dance, song and action scenes. But the prime attention was again on Prostuti Porashar who enthralled the audience with her magnificent performance, playing the role of ‘Rani’. She beautifully portrayed the character of a girl who has nothing ‘girlish’ in her life and the queen of her own world. From the girl who fights easily with a group of goons to the girl who lost herself in someone’s heart, Prostuti splendidly has done justice to the character. But to be frank, ‘Maharani’ was my favourite only for few days, and it was till i had watched ‘Avinetri’. It is because things have changed in my mind after watching this play on the stage of the same troupe. But before saying anything about the play, first i want to draw attention of Rajtilak Theatre authority and ask them to change the publicity strategy and promote not only ‘Maharani’, but also ‘Abhinetri’ too. I honestly feel that people should know about this drama as it going to be one of the finest creations among the innumerous plays have been staged in these years in Mobile Theatre. Avinetri, means actress, is a heart-touching story that smoothly depicts the real picture of a woman’s life in our society. Unlike the title of the play, it’s not a story of a actor and the protagonist has nothing to do with acting in her life as she has been a highly qualified girl who got appointed in a local college as lecturer. What the story says is the real life acting that has to be done by most of the girl in their life just to make happy the people around her. Sacrifice remains the only way that can be opt by her, though she knows that it will make her life hell. Like any other girls of her age, Aparaupa, the protagonist of ‘Avinetri’, had some long cherished dreams too. But some dreams are meant to be remain dreams only. From the life of young girl whose world starts and ends with her mother, to the girl who wants to fly for love, to the wife of a drunkard and uncivilised man, to the mother of a spoiled son, in every phase of life Aparaupa has to fight with life and fate. But she never cries, as if she doesn’t know what is tear all about, as if she doesn’t know how to react when someone lost the world of hope and dreams. The life of Aparupa can be easily related to so many who living their life just for the sake of being alive. Apart from the story, it was Prostuti’s show really. The actor once again has proved her superiority, her difference with others and answers the question why she is ruling the industry. National award winning artist Tarali sarma’s soulful music and background score has played another important role in it. Prostuti were been well supported by Parag Sarma, Archana Bora and the actors too. Must say, Prostuti has been proving that she deserves to be the Maharani in this field, but Rajtilak’s ‘Avinteri’ once again proved that she is a ‘Avinetri’ in real term.
on 28th Sept, 2013

Rajdweep, Only Rajdweep

Prostuti's Magic On, from Maharani to Avinetri at Rajtilak Theatre.

Anup Baruah, who speaks through the lens…!!

Few days ago, if you would have gone into any of recording studios at Guwahati, there is maximum chance of getting it busy with the Mobile Theatre songs. It is because in these particular months in every year, about from May to August, almost every recording studio at Guwahati remains busy and booked for the recordings of Mobile Theatre troupes. Not only the studios, but also the artists, music arrangers, composers, lyricists all have to keep themselves working for the only profit-making as well as growing entertainment industry of the state, i.e. Mobile Theatre. Needless to say, they have to work day-night in such studios to meet the deadlines of several projects as most the troupes are bound to start their journey in mid-august. It was such an evening at Zero db studio, Raigarh, where the recordings of Hengool Theatre songs were going on in full swing. From Sankalpajit Hazarika, the producer of the troupe, to composer Sibabrata Sarma to many of artists, singing for Hengool this year, were roaming in a musical universe and amongst them I found him and got the privilege to have a candid chat with this popular fashion photographer and lyricist, of course. And if you are familiar to the entertainment industry of the state, then you will surely know this guy having the composite talent of photography and song writing. Yeah, He is Anup Baruah, popularly known as ‘Biju’.

If I need to introduce Anup Baruah, I would love tag him as a guy who loves to speak by his camera, through his lens rather than mouth. This soft-spoken boy, rooted from Jorhat, is now established himself as one of the most prominent as well as popular photographer of the region. Using his newer thoughts and innovative ideas, he has been trying to take the photography scenario of Assam to the next level. As one of the pioneer of fashion photography, the young guy has been working for about 12 years and already has carved a niche for himself in this field. He has been credited with 14-15 Assamese cinemas as photographer. The attractive n enthralling photos clicked by Anup has been decorating numerous posters and hoardings of cinema and corporate events. Some of his noteworthy print advertisement works are collaborated with Edu-fest, Edu-options, Geoshine, Divyam Diamond, Jetwings, Subham Heights , NEift etc. And for the regular readers of leading newspaper and magazines Anup Baruah is quiet a familiar name. He has been working for various projects for such publications from the cover page to feature page photographs. The experienced photographer got opportunity to work with most of all the big names of the industry and every time his creative 'click' gets appreciation from masses as well as critics. Another aspect of Anup Barua, which should be mentioned, is his search of new talents and his effort to provide them a platform. In these years, he earned a good name for bringing some bright talents to the industry through his magical lens and gives them the opportunity to showcase their inner talent as well. Many of today's successful and popular names, working in different medium, take Anup Baruah's name with full heart as their mentor.

Apart from still photography, he has been trying his hands in visual photography too. He has directed many music videos for reputed production houses featuring popular artists of this region and his works has been applauded. On the other hand, if we forget his camera for some time, then we will surely need to talk about his another creative weapon, i.e. pen. This talented and much-talked photographer of the town got another identity as a lyricist as he penned lots of soulful songs till date. He has written many popular songs for a good number of Assamese Cinema, Album and also for Mobile theatres of Assam , which keeps on lingering in people’s mind and soul. Concluding this write-up just want to say to this man, who believes on simple living , that show must go on Anup da! link : http://www.assamtimes.org/node/8783

Journey with ‘Bard of Avon’ again...

Nobody knows, when exactly Romeo born, when Juliet came into his life and how the greatest love story ever started. It is because of the fact that the history of English literature has not any reliable answer to the question: ‘when the "Bard of Avon" exactly penned the Romeo and Juliet?’ The Question becomes little bit tougher as whenever we saw it on stage, it looks fresh and relevant to our present scenario. It is really hard to find why we, the audience, weep silently for the tragic ending of the love pair again and again, even after knowing the story and watching it many times. Perhaps it’s the magical touch of the greatest English writer William Shakespeare, the Bard of Avon, which has made this play evergreen and heart-touching. After quite a long gap, the Guwahatians got the privilege to meet Romeo and beautiful Juliet once again, wrapped up with some new thoughts and the needful modernisation. It was a evening of overwhelming welcome to the William Shakespeare’s excellent creation by the fully packed auditorium of Rabindra Bhawan. It was the eve of prestigious Natasurya Drama Festival, that took us back to the tragic love-life of Romeo and Juliet. First of all I would like thanks to Aimee Barua, popular cine-actor of the state, for taking the initiative of bringing once again the greatest tragic love story to the stage of Rabindra Bhawan with full enthusiasm and inspiration. The noted actor, who already carved a niche for herself in the cultural sphere of the state by her works in cinemas and mobile theatre as well, this time, took the initiative for staging an amateur drama. And for this, She recently formed her production house ‘Aimee Barua Production’ and jumped into the arena of amateur theatre. And eventually she decided to start the new journey with the golden piece of Shakespeare, the Romeo and Juliet. Another talented actor and drama activist Himangshu Prasad Das, the NSD graduate, who has brought out the essence of the play in that way that it could be staged here with limited resources and timing as well. He played the role of Romeo and directed the play too, while the elegant Aimee Barua enthralled the audience by her Juliet avatar. Both the lead actors have shown their immense talent and do justice to the epic characters to larger extent. It is because of the their outstanding performance that created a pin-drop-silence amidst of fully packed auditorium. The other characters of the play had been played by Khalinjyoti Bora, Apurba Barman, Dhiraj Mahanta, Niranjan Sarma, Sukdeb Nath, Bornali Bordoloi, Pallabi Barua, Sangita Barua, Sangita Kakati, Tagar Lota Das, Jyotiprasad Das, Dwipen Kalita, Samit Barman, Dhiraj Das, Munindra Das, Amal Thakuria, Bikul Bodo, Rupam Jan, Binod Das, Nilkamal etc. The other people behind this successful presentation of this drama are Pawan Mahanta and Dimpal Kumar Barua who were in-charge of stage decoration and light monitoring respectively.

It should be mentioned here that one of the most attractive part of this play, staged on 4th August, is the last scene in which the original playwright William Shakespeare himself comes on to the stage from the audience. The scene and the concept, added by the director himself, are really noteworthy as it makes the play more relevant to the present and provides the audience a new thought. Another important aspect of that evening is the overwhelming response of the audience. The huge gathering of people compelled the organizers and the troupe to stage another show and that is why there was two shows were being staged of the play. ‘It’s really a great experience. I was so tensed for this but finally our hard work got appreciation ’Says Aimee Barua, the producer and the red gown-claded Juliet of that evening . The actor cum producer also have a plan to stage the play in other parts of the state if any organiser comes forward. We hope the new journey of Aimee, has been started with William Shakespeare, will go on in coming days. Published in www.assamtimes.org link : http://www.assamtimes.org/node/8725

COMEDY NIGHTS WITH KAPIL, Laughter redefined..!!

in Dainik Asom on 11sept 2013

Snake Shyam, a man with snakes

in dainik asom on 3 sept,13