Assam: Bodo film “Sijou” bags four awards at Golden Sparrow International Film Festival 2021

GUWAHATI: A Bodo film, “Sijou” bagged four awards at the Golden Sparrow International Film Festival 2021 in Tamil Nadu, a statement issued here on Tuesday said.

The film is written and directed by city-based Vishal P. Chaliha, and produced by national award-winning filmmakers, Preeyam Kherkatary Chaliha and Omprakash Kherkatary.

The film won “Best Director”, Indian Feature Film, “Best Debut Filmmaker” of Feature Film” and “Best Screenplay Writer”, Indian feature film, and “Special jury award,” Indian feature film.

Commenting on the achievement, Vishal P. Chaliha, director of the film, said, “It is a great privilege for me and the entire team to have bagged the awards.’’

He also said that Cinemoi, one of the largest television networks and OTT (On-The-Top) platforms in the USA, will promote the film in America.

Reportedly, this is the only film from the Northeast to have bagged awards at the festival.

A historical drama, the film revolves around a boy named Sijou, who lives in Saikhonguri, a village in Baksa near the Indo-Bhutan border. One day, the jolly boy, who loves engaging in mischievous activities with friends, becomes a victim of the feudal land tenure system which was in practice in Bhutan till 1958. Gradually, his life takes drastic turns, which eventually turn him into a monk.

The cinematography of the film has been done by Ashutosh Kashyap, while sound designing has been done by one of the finest sound designers of Hindi cinema, Debajit Changmai. The film’s music is composed by Dhrubajyoti Patgiri while the art direction has been done by Jyoti Shankar Bhattacharyyaa.

The film was shot in locations of Arunachal Pradesh, Manas National Park and Saikhonguri, Baksa in Assam.

The film is slated to release by the end of 2021.

(Edited by Gabriel G Momin)