Skip to content Skip to navigation

8th Chalachitram National Film Festival Concludes, Celebrates Cultural Heritage and Social Awareness

By AT News |

Guwahati: The 8th Chalachitram National Film Festival – 2024 concluded at Jyoti Chitraban in Kahilipara, Guwahati, on October 27, celebrating diverse cinematic works. Jaswandha, directed by Shoneel Yallattikar, won the Best Film in the rest of India category, while A Sylvan Saga by Jyoti Prasad Das was awarded the Best Film in Northeast India. Das also took home the Best Director award, and Abhijit Nayak received the Best Screenplay award for Wrong Number, directed by Bijit Borgohain.

Awards for Best Cinematography went to Angsuman Barua & Pradip Ch Sarma for Aadi Shakti Maa Kamakhya and Chida Bora & Saril Nandan Deka for Teens of 1942 (directed by Samiran Deka). The Best Editing award was presented to Bhaskar Jyoti Bhuyan for Birubala - The Crusader by Dhiraj Kashyap, with a special mention from the jury for A Letter To My Home by Devajani Halder.

Organized by Chalachitram, an initiative of Vishwa Samvad Kendra Assam, the festival showcased 50 documentary and short films in both competitive and non-competitive categories. Themed “Our Heritage, Our Pride,” the event aimed to promote nationalism and celebrate India’s cultural legacy. Topics ranged from heritage and tourism to social reform, arts, and the environment.

The closing ceremony honored winners with cash prizes, trophies, and certificates, attended by notable cine-personalities including Assam’s evergreen actress Mridula Barua, filmmakers Atul Gangowar, Santosh Pathare, and others.

The inaugural screening featured The Last Generation by Prabal Khaund. Competing films included Prayojan (Krishna Das), The Butcher (Tashi Wangshu MJ), and Journey with A Dance Form (Pranjal Pratim Chetia). Non-competition screenings highlighted northeast films such as Being Bald (Krishna Das) and Destination (Dipak Kumar Roy). Films from outside the region included My National Flag (Sweta Kumar Dash) and The Village of Masks (Ritabrita Mitra), among others.

The festival, inaugurated by Cotton University VC Ramesh Ch Deka, featured performances and discussions, drawing young film enthusiasts to Jyoti Chitraban, a campus dedicated to Assam’s pioneer filmmaker Rupkonwar Jyotiprasad Agarwala.

The organizing team, represented by Kishor Shivam and others, hopes to inspire emerging filmmakers to use cinema as a medium for social empowerment, highlighting the rich heritage of Bharat beyond mere entertainment.

Author info

AT News's picture

Assam Times Staff. editor@assamtimes.org

Add new comment

Assamese Translator

Assam Times seeks English to Assamese translators!
Join our volunteer team.
Email editor@assamtimes.org.

Random Stories

Dissident Cong leaders in BJP!

13 Jul 2015 - 10:27am | AT News
 A circle of top Congress leaders is contemplating to join BJP just ten month ahead of the assembly polls. Bu the ruling party is least bothered.Sources told Assam Times they have been in...

Twin blast at Haflong

8 Oct 2012 - 5:56pm | Anup Biswas
Twin blast at Haflong on Sunday with an interval of only 30 minutes rocked Haflong. First one was exploded near synod Gallery and Second one was exploded near Statefed godown in Sarkari bagan but...

Flood situation deteriorates; toll 3

18 Aug 2014 - 10:56am | AT News
 Assam continues to grapple with a grim flood situation where the toll has gone up to 3. The third victim is a 25-year youth at Nauboicha in Lakhimpur. The worst affected districts in the...

Police officer commits suicide

10 Oct 2014 - 2:28pm | AT News
Sensation prevails in Tezpur after a police officer allegedly committed suicide on Friday. The incident was believed to have taken place in the wee hours where senior police officer Naren Talukdar...

Other Contents by Author

Navjot Singh Sidhu Shares Cancer Recovery Diet Plan That Helped His Wife Heal in 40 Days

Chandigarh: Former cricketer and politician Navjot Singh Sidhu has shared an inspiring story of his wife's recovery from cancer, attributing her remarkable progress to a strict diet plan inspired by ancient Indian Ayurveda, Nobel Prize-winning research on autophagy by Yoshinori Ohsumi, and guidance from medical experts. The plan, Sidhu revealed, helped his wife recover in just 40 days after undergoing surgeries, chemotherapy, and targeted therapies. Speaking to the media, Sidhu expressed his gratitude for the holistic approach, which combined positivity, lifestyle changes, and a disciplined nutritional regimen. “Positivity, determination, and the right diet can create miracles,” he said...

Celebrating Asomiya: A Classical Language’s Journey to Recognition

The Directorate of Cultural Affairs under the Assam government marked its 53rd anniversary with a historic event celebrating the recognition of Asomiya (Assamese) as a classical language. Held at the iconic Rabindra Bhawan, the evening highlighted the significance of this achievement and charted a roadmap for the language's preservation and growth in written and colloquial forms. The courtyard of Rabindra Bhawan, adorned with vibrant decorations and a podium beneath lush Bokul trees, hosted an enthusiastic audience of dignitaries and scholars. As the sun dipped below the Brahmaputra’s horizon, the program commenced with three distinguished panelists sharing their insights. The...

Protester Killed During Violent Clashes in Manipur; Curfew Imposed and Internet Suspended in Seven Districts

Tensions escalated in Manipur’s violence-hit Jiribam district on Sunday night as clashes between security forces and protesters turned deadly, officials reported. A young protester, identified as 21-year-old K. Athouba, was fatally shot amid the chaos. A police official confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine who fired the fatal shot, while protesters allege that a Manipur Police special commando unit was responsible. Two others were reported injured in the incident. The violence erupted as mobs attacked and vandalized properties belonging to political leaders and various party offices. According to police reports, the unrest began at Babupara before spreading to other...

Tiger Carcass Found in Kaziranga National Park

The body of a tiger was discovered in the Horonbali Chapori area of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, located in Assam’s Biswanath district, on Monday. Forest guards came across the carcass during a routine patrol and alerted senior officials, who subsequently arrived at the scene to recover the remains. Preliminary findings suggest that the tiger may have died as a result of a fight with another tiger. To confirm the exact cause of death, samples will be sent to a forensic laboratory for further analysis. The disposal of the carcass was carried out under the supervision of senior forest officials and veterinary doctors. Kaziranga National Park, recognized as a Tiger Reserve...

Guwahati Police Busts Cybercrime Gang, Arrests 8

Guwahati Police has successfully busted a cybercrime gang involved in a major fraud operation. Eight individuals were arrested following a raid at a lodge in Boragaon. The gang was operating a network of "mule bank accounts" to facilitate the transfer of illegally obtained money. The arrested individuals were involved in opening bank accounts using fake identities and documents. They would then hand over these accounts to cybercriminals who used them to launder money obtained through online scams. The police seized numerous items, including mobile phones, ATM cards, cheque books, and electronic devices, from the arrested individuals. A case has been registered against the accused, and...

Government Extends AFSPA in Manipur Amidst Ethnic Clashes

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) today extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, to six police stations across five districts in Manipur. This decision, effective immediately, will remain in place until March 31, 2025. The affected areas include Sekmai, Lamsang, Lamlai, Jiribam, Leimakhong, and Moirang police stations in Imphal West, Imphal East, Jiribam, Kangpokpi, and Bishnupur districts. The extension is aimed at empowering security forces to conduct coordinated operations and address the ongoing ethnic violence and insurgent activity in the region. The MHA's decision follows a comprehensive review of the security situation in Manipur, which continues to be volatile...

Polling for 6 Assam, Meghalaya assembly seats ends largely peacefully

The voting under by-polls in six assembly constituencies of Assam and Meghalaya, conducted to fill up the vacant seats (as the respective legislators had shifted their focus to the national politics after winning the recently conducted Lok Sabha polls), ended largely peacefully on Wednesday evening with a satisfactory over 70% voters’ turn out. The fate of all candidates is stored in the electronic voting machines, which will be opened on 23 November next. Along with these seats, by-polls for over 40 assembly constituencies (along with two Lok Sabha seats) in other parts of India are on the card along with the State assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand before the counting day...

Asam Sahitya Sabha UK Chapter Mourns the Loss of Its First President

It is with deep sorrow that the Asam Sahitya Sabha UK Chapter announces the passing of its first president, Shri Bhuban Baruah, who breathed his last this morning at Bexleyheath, London (1932 - November 1, 2024). The news has cast a shadow of grief over the UK Chapter and the wider Assamese community. Shri Baruah, who emigrated over five decades ago, was a stalwart Assamese by heart and a knowledgeable yet humble individual. Born in Digboi, he pursued higher education at the University of Calcutta, earning his law degree and later completing his Master’s in Law from Banaras Hindu University with distinction. He worked as the Chief Correspondent for the Shillong Assembly before coming to...

Anganwadi Workers Protest Demanding Pay Hike

The Assam State Committee of Anganwadi Workers and Assistants Association (ASAWWA) staging a protest in front of the Directorate of the Women and Child Welfare Department in Ujan Bazar, Guwahati on November 4. The protesters demanded the government publish the official notice regarding a proposed salary increase for Anganwadi workers and assistants. The association is advocating for transparency and timely communication regarding the salary adjustments, which are crucial for the livelihood of its members. The protest underscores the ongoing struggles faced by Anganwadi workers in securing fair compensation for their vital contributions to community health and education.

Guwahati Residents Rally Against Tree Felling for Flyover Project

Guwahati, Oct. 29:  A wave of protest swept through Guwahati on Tuesday as concerned citizens gathered at Dighalipukhuri to oppose the felling of numerous ancient trees for the construction of a flyover connecting Noonmati and Dighalipukhuri. Protesters, united under the banner "Save Our Trees, Save Our Heritage," expressed deep concern over the potential environmental impact and loss of the city's natural beauty. They argued that the 200-year-old trees, vital to the ecosystem, act as natural air purifiers, reduce urban heat, and provide a sanctuary for migratory birds. Community leaders and environmental activists have pledged to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to halt...