GUWAHATI: In an initiative taken up by NRL, the company has embarked upon a journey to create awareness against the deadly menace of witch hunting by collaborating with Angeekar Films in screening its feature film ‘Aei Maatite’ at different rural places in Golaghat and Bokakhat Districts from 5th to 9th June, 2018.
During the five-day campaign launched by NRL and Numaligarh Sodhanagar Sakha Sahitya Sabha, special shows of Aei Maatite were organised at Mahuramukh, Bahikhowa village (Bokakhat), Betoni village (Sarupathar), Furkating and Numaligarh. In this drive to raise awareness amongst the rural folk against unscientific beliefs and superstitions, nearly 10,000 people were touched. Watching the film, many villagers came to the organisers and demanded more such screenings of the film in other interior places where such practices are still going on.
Speaking on the screenings organised by NRL, director of Aei Maatite, Dr Sitanath Lahkar said, “As the film is based on witch hunting issue, which is affecting people in rural areas and smaller towns, we were particularly interested to take the film to as many places as we could. It is really encouraging to see that a big corporate entity like Numaligarh Refinery has come forward to screen the film in some remote parts of our state with the sole motive to aware people against superstition and create scientific temperament in the society. We wish that more such corporate houses will come forward in the coming days and that is surely going to make a difference on the ground.”
Aei Maatite is the first Assamese feature film on the issue of witch hunting. The debut feature film of eminent theatre personality and independent filmmaker Dr Sitanath Lahkar, Aei Maatite mainly talks about the witch hunting problem in Assam and how a section of people are using witchcraft for their own interest. The film has a very strong message against witch hunting, upholding the value of scientific temperament and human life.