Skip to content Skip to navigation

Evergreen memories!

By Aiyushman Dutta |

Promising to take one on a trip down memory lane, late Bhabendranath Saikia’s immortal feature, Xanta-Xista Hrista-Pusta Mahadusta is soon going to make its comeback. This feature which used to be transmitted through All India Radio in the late eighties is now being recorded in video format at the behest of young theatre worker Simanta Phukan. Production has been going on at the Guwahati-based Shankardev Studios since January 1 this year. A dynamic theatre worker from Jorhat, Simanta has more than hundred theatrical plays to his credit, besides some highly acclaimed video features like Joymoti and Kamalakuwari. The attempt to record the nostalgia associated with this feature is being undertaken by Simanta in the memory of late Bhabendranath Saikia.

Xanta-Xista Hrista-Pusta Mahadusta, or the exploits of Manu, Bapu, Bhulu and Runi, is something which an entire generation of the State grew up with. In order to capture the very essence of the old feature, Simanta had launched a state-wide audition for the four main characters. More than 300 child artists from all across the State had come to participate in the audition. It was finally decided that Ekta Saikia of Guwahati, Arindam Sharma Kashyap pf Dergaon, Soumabrat Bora of Sibsagar and Pranju Bora of Numaligarh perfectly fitted the evergreen characters of Runi, Bhulu, Monu and Bapu. The other members of the cast include Arun Nath, Malaya Goswami, Upakul Bordolooi, Chetana Das, Prasanta Phukan, Mridul Kakati, Jyotirmoi Sharma, Banashri Kakoti, Puwali Bora, child artists Navakishor Dutta and Anupam Gogoi besides others.

The video feature is being produced by Sonari-based cultural activists Utpal Gogoi and Debajit Bora under the banner of JJ Production. The crew for Xanta-Xista Hrista-Pusta Mahadusta is as belows: Munin Barua (choreography), Jitu Ahmed (camera), Rustam Bora (chief assistant director, Bubul Phukan and Rupjyoti Mahanta (assistant directors), Biswajit Kalita (make-up), Gitika Phukan (costume), Phatik Baruah (production controller), Dipak Sharma (production manager). Anurag Saikia has provided the music score for the film and Zubeen Garg has lend his voice to the beautiful lyrics penned down by Dr. Anil Sharma. The first episode of the video feature will be released on Dr. Bhabendranath Saikia’s birth anniversary on February 20.

  • 11021 reads

Add new comment

Other Contents by Author

Is art a smart investment?

Nowadays art is an emerging market all around the globe. Economists look at this as a smart investment due to its excellent financial rewards. Although there is some awareness about it in our country, it is prevalent in only a few metro cities. To promote the art and the awareness of this investment, leading art website www.livelyculture.com organized a seminar. Many eminent persons of the State, like Hiren Bhattacharyya, Hare Krishna Deka, D.N Saikia, Jevin Gosh Dastidar, Dilip Bora, Kishore Bhattacharyya, Dilip Tamuly and many more participated in this seminar. A representative of the venture, Indrani Khaund presented a brief view on the topics. According to her Art is one of those few...

An evening of classical music

As per its tradition, Talim staged its annual group performance in Rabindra Bhavan last Sunday. Talim was founded by Sitar maestro Hem Hazarika in 1995 to keep alive the fast dying guru-sishya parampara of the country. Unlike other schools of music which lay more emphasis on certificates and degrees, Talim is one institute which believes in the acquisition of musical knowledge in a holistic manner. I remember Hem Hazarika telling me in one of our many discussions, “Merit cannot be judged with certificates. It shows when you perform on stage.” In Talim, students are not taught new lessons until and unless they have mastered the fundamental knowledge of taal and loy. Though most...

A tale of a village along a river

Nature had been kind to Assam, evident in its rich natural beauty. Apart from adding colours to the scenic beauty of the State, nature has also worked its charm on the creative urges of many a writer, poet and artist. And now noted novelist Swarna Bora has come up with an enchanting tale on the lives of the people residing in a village of historical significance along the Buridihing River in Dibrugarh district. Veteran novelist Phanindra Kumar Deb Choudhury formally released the book, Buridihingor Moupya aru Acharya in Guwahati recently. The writer Swarna Bora says that rivers have attracted him ever since childhood and most of his novels are based on the lives of people living on river...

Minoti Borthakur - Courage to fight the odds!

When the going gets tough, the tough gets going, so sang Billy Joel. But when the going really gets tough, life tends to get disheartening, discouraging and everyday seems like drudgery. But once you make that breakthrough, you derive power in the truest sense of the term. Meet Professor Minoti Borthakur, who has not only proved the relevance of these words but is encouraging disheartened people to start dreaming and hoping once again. Minoti’s story is one of courage and determination as she dared to fight a cunning and baffling disease like cancer, even when all doctors had given up hope, and emerge victorious. And in the process, she has set an example for others with her immense...

Where is the human touch?

HIV/AIDS is the biggest scourge to ever confront mankind and drugs weaken a person emotionally, physically and spiritually. HIV/AIDS is not transmitted by holding hands or by sharing food items. The younger generation, who are more susceptible to these twin threats, should take care to remain away from drugs and take all precautionary measures against possible infection by the HIV. Yours truly, along with countless other Indians (who have had the chance to attain elementary education), has been subject to this kind of a statement ever since I entered school and then, in my professional life. Still, incidents of drug abuse and HIV/AIDS cases are found to be continuously on the rise. It...

Tribute or Obituary?

Robert Zimmerman, better known as Bob Dylan, has probably never been to Shillong. In his half-a-century old musical career, quite a few birthday parties thrown in his honour worldwide. 35 of such event have been held in the quaint little town of Shillong as the Bob Dylan fest is held in the hill city May 24 every year. It started out as a small private celebration by Lou Majaw - lead singer of the Ace of Spades band and his friends in 1972 and grew into an annual event in Shillong, drawing fans from across the country and the world. On the motive behind the Dylan fest, quintessential Khasi-guitarist, Lou Majaw says, “I’ m not star struck. But from the first time I heard Dylan,...