Skip to content Skip to navigation

Veerangana screened at Guwahati Book Fair

By Prantik Deka |

The much-acclaimed Assamese documentary film on the country’s first female commando unit ­– ‘Veerangana’, was screened to much praise and appreciation at the Gagan Chandra Adhikari auditorium of the 33rd Guwahati Book Fair on January 6, 2021. On the occasion, the film’s poster was unveiled by the prominent actress of Assamese cinema Mridula Baruah and Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, IPS, Director General of Assam Police.

Produced and directed by Kishore Kalita, ‘Veerangana’ has participated and bagged a number of awards at various prestigious film festivals in India and abroad, including the Cine Making International Film Award 2020, Dhaka, Bangladesh, Special Festival Mention at the Indian Cine Film Festival, declared as finalist by Lift-Off Global Network, London Film Festival, official selection to Jaipur International Film Festival, Tamil Nadu Independent Film Festival, etc.

The distribution of mementos in appreciation to the unit members of ‘Veerangana’ was followed by an intimate discourse with members of the Veerangana unit.

A significant impact has been made on having a unit that would be significantly aggressive, to deal with people that are committing crimes, especially crimes against women. The Veerangana squad of Assam Police will soon undergo a complete makeover. Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, in his key-note speech, spoke about making the unit more aggressive and mean by pushing through a number of progressive reforms. Mridula Baruah showered praises on the Veerangana members for their exemplary courage and service to the society, in her speech.   

The 21-minute documentary is based on the far-reaching role of the Veerangana team of Assam Police, which was formed as a special women force for protection of women working in the city. It portrays various activities of the female commando unit and their role in effectively dealing with crime against women in Guwahati.

With their keen understanding of the environment that they work in and the challenges that go with it, the Veeranganas have provided women that much more confidence to go out anywhere and anytime they want. The Veerangana unit has become a huge role-model to women in Assam and the North-East.

The documentary projects the entire concept along with some personal details of the working Veeranganas.

A city-based cultural activist, Kishore Kalita, who made this documentary film under the banner of SK Production, and in the fond memory of his father S.C Kalita, has dedicated it to the Assam Police. ‘Veerangana’s screenplay is written by Utpal Datta, camerawork executed by Nagen Baishya, editing is by Diganta Borah, music and sound designing is by Abhijit Barman, while Ambarish Barkataky is its colourist and subtitles are written by Prantik Deka. The title song in the documentary is rendered by popular singer Zublee Baruah. 

  • 15743 reads

Add new comment

Other Contents by Author

Jatin Bora's 'ratnakar' to release in October

Making his comeback after 13 years as a filmmaker, actor Jatin Bora is gearing up to present his new film ‘Ratnakar’. The much anticipated big-budgeted film, produced under the banner of JB Films, will hit the screens on October 11, soon after the conclusion of Durga Puja. The need of the hour is to provide meaningful entertainment so that the audiences in Assam go back to the theatres. Jatin Bora has assured that his venture is not a run-of-the-mill Assamese film but promises something more. Depicting three different stages of a man’s life, the film is built around a father-daughter relationship, which has not been adequately explored in Assamese cinema. The film boasts of a number of...

Bongeet album ‘suwadi xuriya subakh’ released

The unique Bongeets, created by Bonkonwar Anandiram Das, are a beautiful blend of Bihu tunes with other native songs, and they resonated with the people of Assam, irrespective of age or musical preference. It was through these exquisite songs and lyrics that Bonkonwar interpreted his experiences, which also reflected much of the feelings of common people, while also depicting Nature in all its bounty. He breathed new life into Assamese music and the fresh appeal of the songs made them hugely popular among the masses. Bonkonwar employed the pastoral convention to talk about the hopes and aspirations of the rural folk, and through it, connected to larger humanity as well, in the hallowed...

Kaya, first online serial from Assam

The web series genre, though still at its nascent stage, is creating a space for young, independent filmmakers to present their work in the digital medium. Now, Assam is all set to witness its first-ever web-series, which could well set a new trend. Titled ‘Kaya’, the serial, planned as a 100-episode series, will be shown on the popular video-sharing site – YouTube, in the last week of July. A tale of mystery and horror, ‘Kaya’s story, script, dialogue and direction is by Surajit Hatimuria, who hails from Nazira in Sivasagar district. A number of episodes have already been shot in different locations of Nazira and Guwahati. If this web-series somehow hits it off with the viewers, it will...

Ajit Singha : an ode to an artiste

The Tezpur chapter of the Asam Sahitya Sabha, the apex literary body of Assam, paid glowing tributes to the eminent music director, lyricist and actor – Ajit Singha by observing his 16th death anniversary at the Tezpur Sahitya Sabha Bhawan, recently. The commemoration programme, christened as ‘Xuoroni-Nidibi Amoni, Geetey-Matey Ati Bohagi Abeli’, began with the lighting of the traditional lamp by the well-known singer-lyricist and wife of the late artiste, Ruby Singha, followed by the release of the audio album ‘Tumar Xuror Smritit’ – a compilation of chorus tracks, composed by Ajit Singha, by the Deputy Commissioner of Sonitpur, Narshing Powar, in the presence of several noted guests,...

Kulada Bhattacharjee’s maiden movie launched

With an exceptional body of work in cinema and theatre behind him, veteran actor-director Kulada Kumar Bhattacharjee, a powerhouse of talent, even at the age of 85, is making his maiden feature film, which was launched at the premises of the Kamakhya Devalaya recently. A man who helped usher a new era with his innovative approaches and methods in almost every genre of theatre, Bhattacharjee, whose films include ‘Sakuntala’, ‘Latighati’, ‘Chikmik Bijulee’, ‘Bhagya’, ‘Prabhati Pakhir Gaan’, ‘Ramdhenu’, ‘Surjyasta’, ‘Cactus’, ‘Dikchow Banat Palaax’, ‘Maj Rati Keteki’, ‘Village Rockstars’, among others, has been closely engaged with the theatre world of Assam. He was deeply involved in making...

Overcoming challenges Chandra mudoi’s new film ‘makonor school’

Director Chandra Mudoi, always a capable man behind the megaphone, has just completed the post-production works of his new Assamese film ‘Makonor School’ (Life too is a School). The movie marks a new journey for the filmmaker who has a reputation of incorporating the more commercially appealing elements into his films. Before this, he has to his credit 13 movies, which have tasted a good deal of success. Presently, digital filmmaking is garnering a lot of momentum, and has become the hot medium for filmmakers to realise their dreams. The movie market too has evolved a great deal. It’s quite tough for filmmakers to secure distribution for their films, nowadays. As Rima Das’s ‘Village...

Bhasa Sanskriti Milan Utsav held

The 13th Bhasha Sanskriti Milan Utsav 2019 – a cultural event, organised by the state’s well-known socio-cultural organisation Byatikram MASDO (Mass Awareness and Social Development Oraganisation), successfully concluded at the Pragjyotish ITA Centre, Machkhowa, Guwahati, recently. The five-day event, held to mark the Mother Language Day - a day celebrated annually on February 21 worldwide to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity, multilingualism and the preservation and protection of languages, saw several cultural programmes, discussions, book launches, poets’ meets, art exhibitions, felicitations, among others, where several artistes and noted figures from Bangladesh and...

New film: Siyahir Rong

It has only recently completed its shooting portion, but ‘Siyahir Rong’ is already creating a lot of buzz on the social media. The film, based on noted senior political journalist and writer Jitumoni Bora’s acclaimed novel of the same title, is directed by Prodyut Kumar Deka. In 2016, Bora brought out a book that takes an objective inquest into the true nature of journalism in Assam, uncovering a number of concealed truths and stories. Based on his own professional experiences over the past 25 years, his book, published by Bani Mandir, enabled readers to have a refreshing look at the field throughout the 312 pages of the searing novel. The astonishing lengths to which he traversed to unfold...

Shankar Barua's film 'Rongeen’ to release on Mar 15

At long last, the people of Assam will get to savour the beautiful colours and electrifying music of the widely awaited Assamese film ‘RONGEEN’. Scheduled for a March 15 theatrical release, the people of Assam are expected to throng the movie theaters to watch  ‘RONGEEN’ this election season.  In director Shankar Borua's words: "RONGEEN is a political musical with 8 songs, primarily what we would call as Assamese rap music. The content is fairly local and reflective of the political mood on the ground in Assam at this moment, just the right time to take this powerful movie with a strong political message to the people of Assam. A down-and-out guy who manages singers for a living...

Rd Burman Memorial Music Competition On January 5

An all-round musician and a trendsetter, RD Burman, better known as ‘Pancham da’, was one of the most prolific music directors that India had ever produced. The iconic music maestro revolutionized the music scene in the country forever.  It’s heartening to know that music lovers of the city will get a rare opportunity to relive the evergreen compositions of the legendary RD. A music competition on the occasion of RD Burman’s 25th death anniversary, organised under the aegis of North East RD Burman Fan Club, is scheduled to be held on January 5 at the District Library in Guwahati. The winning contestants stand to gain cash prizes, certificates and a trophy. There will be separate...