Skip to content Skip to navigation

Laaj premier at the London Film Festival

London Film Festival in March 2013 has selected award winning Assamese film - Laaj (Shame) directed by Manju Borah. Manju Borah is also been invited to attend this event. This initiative has been taken by Rini Kakati. Rini Kakati is very excited that an Assamese film will be shown at this prestigious event.

There are a number of great films lined up and some talent from Bollywood and beyond will be attending, including the reknowned actress and woman activist Shabana Azmi and historian Bhawana Somaya amongst others. Including the award winning documentary Saving Face followed by a panel discussion with the amazing Dr Mohammad Jawad and other Pakistani talents.This year LFF will continue beyond borders theme with exciting films from USA, India, Kashmir, Sri Lanka, Assam, Pakistan and Britain. The festival includes screenings, masterclasses and networking events from 7 to 17 of March 2013.
 
For the last fifteen years the largest South Asian Film Festival in the UK. This year especially focusing on the journey of cinema through the past 100 years and the global appeal of Indian cinema. Big screening will be held on the 7th March is at the British Film Institute Southbank.  
 
About Laaj:
Not withstanding the adoption of the pious ans solemn universal declaration of human rights meant to be emoluted by all nations which refers to the "equal and inalienable
human rights of all members of the human family", in the developing countries of the world even now the rich continues to grow richer which the poorer goes poorer, the misery and distress of this strata of people who have never tasted the basic necessities of life, are universal, lack of basic education has resulted in explosive birth rates.
 
Ila, the protagonist of 'Laaj' is the representative of such a society, with tremendous desire for education she is constantly struggling to continue with her studies haning to come to terms with the real cruel realities. Ila, is not a segregated character, her character brings to light the poverty, neglect, reoproach, denial, unhappiness and frustration of the poor fish society which speaks for the other similarly circumstances human race, Ila is the symbol of the unshed tears of the poor hapless villagers faced with ila's helpless situation one wonders, "why do human suffer so? The shame which ila feels at not wearing an underwear, is in reality, whose shame, anyway?"
 
About Manju Borah:
Manju Borah is a story teller turned film maker, Manju Borah depict the socio-cultural issues through celluloid. A student of philosophy, she narrates the many faces of life and presents it with realistic approach. Born in Assam, North-East India, she writes short stories exploring the indigenous culture and its impact on the person and community as a whole through her characters. Her articles on various issues are based on her continuous research works and are truly thought provoking 
 
Manju served as Jury Member, Indian Panorama, IFFI 2007, 10th MAMI International Film Festival 2008 and 3rd Eye 7th Asian Film Festival Mumbai 2008, 55th National Film Awards for 2007 (Feature Films) Delhi 2009. She is a proud recipient of Senior Fellowship from the Central Ministry of Culture for the year 2005-2007 on her work associated with Women oriented folklore of Assam. She has been awarded Women of Excellence Award by FICCI for outstanding contribution in the field of Film & Entrepreneurship in the year 2009. She has been recently selected for the Satyajit Ray Memorial Award in 2012 by the Third Eye Asian Film Festival of Mumbai . At present, She is the  Chairperson of Oscars committee, India.

Add new comment

Random Stories

PTI employees’ union meet in the city

17 Nov 2015 - 7:57pm | AT News
A three-day National Executive meeting of the Federation of PTI Employees Union is scheduled to be held at Guwahati for the first time. Organised under the aegis of the PTI Employees’ Union, Guwahati...

ULFA claims responsibility of explosion

29 Jan 2013 - 1:56pm | AT News
ULFA has owned up the responsibility of the strike in oil pipeline at Makum on Tuesday. In a statement, the outfit claimed to have used PMTD technology to blow up the oil pipeline which took place on...

Players feted

7 Oct 2018 - 10:42pm | AT Kokrajhar Bureau
Kokrajhar district committee of Assam Tchoukball association felicitated the players who were part of recently concluded inter district Tchoukball championship held at Bodosa Nwgwr ground in Chirang...

Goods train derails near Haflong

22 Oct 2013 - 6:13pm | AT News
Normal rail traffic remains disrupted after six oil tanker bogies of a goods train derailed in Dima Hasao district on Tuesday.The accident took place in between Harengajao and Migrandisa in the...

Other Contents by Author

Assam is a part of India which in somewhere is little know even in India itself because of its remote location. More importantly the relative neglect absence of Sankaradeva in the history of the Neo-Vaishnavite movement in India, has long been a gap in knowledge waiting recognition. The much travelled, social reformer and fountain head of the great Neo - Vaishnavite movement and Sattriya institute of Assam in 15th century. Where there was division he brought union, where there was war he brought peace and brought together by Sankaradeva - the father of Assamese nation The history of the Assamese people, the history of its national awareness is the life of Sankaradeva - he is the pulse...
On the occasion of Assamese New Year and Rongali Bihu on Saturday, 14 April, 2012 - a traditional Bihu Bhoj was organised by Assamese Community at Barham Park Lounge, Wembley, initiated by Rini Kakati, NRI Co-ordinator for UK. This idea came from Gordon Ramsey when he was enquiring about any Assamese restaurant in London after returning from Assam 3 years back. Bihu is the National festival of Assam. Irrespective of caste, creed and religion the people of Assam celebrate Bihu with much pomp and gaiety. To establish the existence of cultural roots and heritage, every community in Britain put their combined efforts in an organised manner. Assamese Community is no exception. The...
When Gordon Ramsey went to Assam he had a taste of Khar and Bamboo shoot, Tenga. Returning from Assam was enquiring if there is any Assamese restaurant in London. That was about 3 years back. I was waiting for the right moment. Rongali Bihu celebration has been organised at Barham Park Lounge in Wembley on Saturday 14 April, 2012 at 6:00pm. Traditional Assamese food will be prepared by Ms. Juri Gogoi with her friends at the premises. A colourful cultural function and Bihu dance group will be lead by Ms. Jill Baruah. This event has been organised by Rini Kakati, NRI Co-ordinator for UK. A BBC Celebrity Chef has kindly accepted our invitation and will be our " Surprise Guest "...
Dr. Jadumoni Bora (1.4.1943 – 30.12.2011) Born Mangaldai, Assam, India. 1st of April 1943. MBBS from Assam Medical College in Dibrugarh Arrived in the U.K. (First post in Scotland) 1967 Married Bani Bora (nee Chaudhuri) in 1974 Became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1978 (F.R.C.S) First son Robin Sankar Bora born 1982 Second son Arun Sankar Bora born 1988 Career highlight: General & Vascular Surgeon at the Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospital, Nottingham, 1988-2003
On Friday evening 18 November, 2011 Nehru Centre the Cultural Wing of Indian High Commission presented a Shradhanjali programme to commemorate and paid highest tribute to Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, the stalwart in the annals of India's cultural heritage, a multifaceted genius of Assam, and legendary - national and international cultural icon, who represented and reflected with perfection, the socio - cultural political image of our great country India. On Friday morning, Assamese community gathered at the bank of river Thames and arranged an immerse of the ashes of Bhupen da with holy prayer and naam kirtan. It is not everyday people like him is born 85 years of meaningful existence will...
On Saturday, 5 November, 2011 at 4:35pm, Dr. Bhupen Hazarika - a multifaceted genius, maestro the heart of Assamese people left us all in tears. Devastated as we are we remember his scintillating personality with great fondness and a sense of loss. He did not want to anything from us apart from our love. He sang: Moi Jetiya Eei Jibonor Maya Eri Gushi Jaam Aasha Koro Mor Sitar Kaxat Tumar Xahari Pam Tumar Etupi Sokulo Palei Moi Pam Mor Gaan ................. You are cordially invited to attend a Shradhanjali programme organised at Nehru Centre. Panel meeting chair by : Rita Payne (BBC World Service) Speakers : Ashis Ray ( well-...
Last Tuesday evening I had a shocking phone call from a friend telling me Jitendra Nath Barooah passed away in his sleep at his Southfield residence. He had a heart attack, lying fully clothed in his bed. Unknown to anyone when actually he died. It was only came to light when a neighbour raised the alarm as he was not been seen around for few days. Soft spoken loving, kind and gentle person, he was everybody’s moromor, Basa da – a great loss for the Assamese Community in London. He died at the age of 85. Jitendra Nath Barooah was born and raised in a well-known family at Jorhat. As a brilliant boy to his parents after completing High school he went to join Banaras Hindu...
Death we know is an inevitable truth of life and yet when the memory strikes its finality unnerves us and shakes us to the core. Everyone dies but not everyone lives and it can be said of Ikbal Rasul who passed away in the wee hours of Friday 19 August, 2011 at St. Lukes Hospital, London. He was only 48 years, leaving his young and loving wife Taskeen. His passing was like a candle blown out by gentle breeze. He was severely ill for sometime in Charing Cross...
We are proud to be a host country for London 2012 Olympic from 27 July to 12 August, 2012 and welcome back the Olympics after 64 years. As I live in this part of London, my excitement is Wembley and Borough of Brent plays its part by providing host venues for football, badminton and rhythmic gymnastics. Olympic Veldrome for Britain's cycling and sprinter is the first London 2012 venue has already finished. This will be third time for London Olympic games having previously done so in 1908 and in 1948. As London is a multicultural society the logo of the Olympic itself will prove that it is for everyone regardless of age, culture and language design to be populated to contain infills and...
Lord Adam Patel of Blackburn, patron of FASS ( Friends of Assam and Seven Sisters) along with Rini Kakati. NRI Co-ordinator for UK organised "Focus on Assam" seminar at House of Lords, Palace of Westmister on 13 June, 2011. It was a month long preparation by Rajen Barua, Chairman, FASS at Houston and Ankur Bora, Fass co-ordinator from Texas. FASS newsletter MITRO and a video presentation were also made for the occasion.For the first time since independence, the House of Lords today focused on the Assam Tourism, promising all help to put this beautiful state firmly in the world tourism meet. The Lords and MPs came out out of the way to help Assam event. Shri Tarun Gogoi. Hou'rble Chief...