GUWAHATI: An Assamese folk art movie titled "Life in a Puppet" is all set to hit the screens across Assam on Friday, October 22, after a gap of almost eighteen months.
The Assamese movie which was initially slated to be released in the month of April got postponed due to the second wave of COVID-19 situation in the State as well as the entire country.
The Assam government had permitted the reopening of cinema halls from October 1 across the State. The movie "Life in a Puppet" will be the first movie to be released after a gap of almost 18 months.
Assam has a total of 78 movie theatres in the State, out of which at least 12 have recommenced the screening of films, while the others have remained shut due to factors like restoration work, lack of restoration of disconnected electricity connection, repairing of machinery, etc.
“Life in a Puppet” has been produced and directed by Rajen Das, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at NH College in Bajali district of Assam.
"Puppetry folk art was a part and parcel of the Assamese society before. However, it slowly disappeared with the passage of time. The idea behind making the movie was to revive the otherwise lost puppetry folk art," the director told G Plus.
"The movie shall be premiered tomorrow at 11 am across 10 cinema halls in the State. We are confident people of Assam will come and watch the movie maintaining all the standard COVID-19 protocols", Das added.
"All the pre-production works such as scripting, shooting, etc were done by myself. The total budget including both the Pre & Post production stands at around 20- 25 lakhs," Das further added.
G Plus also spoke to one of the lead artists in the movie Asha Bordoloi who said, "We have lots of expectations regarding the revival of puppetry folk art through this film and pass it on to the next generation".
"I am confident that people will like it and embrace it with open arms. I appeal to the public to please watch the movie and bless us", Bordoloi added.
The movie has been made on a budget of 20-25 lakhs. It has already been screened at various film festivals which revolves around the life of the artists associated with the folk art form and their plight following very little demand for puppetry these days.
