#IFFIWood, 26 November 2025

Assamese cinema cast a luminous spell at IFFI 2025 as the teams behind two remarkable works—'Bhaimon Da’ (Feature Film) and ‘Patralekha’ (Non-Feature Short Film) opened their hearts and creative journeys to an enthralled audience during a warm, emotionally charged press conference. Steeped in the cultural soul of Assam, both films stood as heartfelt tributes to two towering artistic giants: Munin Barua, the beloved Bhaimon Da of Assamese cinema, and Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, the musical maestro whose voice continues to echo across generations. Their legacies pulsed through the stories, visuals, and emotions presented, making the moment not just a festival appearance, but a celebration of Assam’s enduring creative spirit.

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Press Conference of the movies ‘Bhaimon Da’ and ‘Patralekha’ at the PIB Media Centre #IFFI56#IFFIGoa #IFFI2025

Watch now: https://t.co/yaGVST0Bza

— PIB in Goa 🇮🇳 (@PIB_Panaji) November 26, 2025

Bhaimon Da: A Landmark Tribute to Munin Barua and 90 Years of Assamese Cinema

Director Sasanka Samir introduced ‘Bhaimon Da’, the first commercial biopic on the iconic Assamese filmmaker Munin Barua, fondly known as Bhaimon Da. A towering figure of Assamese cinema, Barua’s films redefined mainstream storytelling in the region, leaving an indelible mark on generations of audiences.

Narrating Barua’s journey from modest beginnings to cinematic mastery, the film revisits his struggles, creative evolution, and behind-the-scenes moments from cherished films that featured luminaries such as Biju Phukan, Mridula Barua, Zubeen Garg, and Jatin Bora. With its nostalgic charm and emotional depth, Bhaimon Da honours both the man and the golden legacy he helped build.

At the press conference, Samir spoke passionately about the filmmaking process: “Munin Barua gave his entire life to Assamese cinema. His passion, his dreams, and his sacrifices shaped our film culture. I wanted to capture not just his journey, but the spirit of 90 years of our cinematic history.”

The film is the result of nearly five years of research and development, including extensive archival work, interviews, and statewide travel. Featuring over 120 shooting locations and 360 performers, Bhaimon Da stands as one of the most ambitious productions in Assamese film history. “This is not just a biopic—it is a tribute to every artist, technician, and audience member who has kept Assamese cinema alive. This film belongs to them,” Sameer added.

Patralekha: A Lyrical Meditation Inspired by Bhupen Hazarika’s Evocative Song

Director and author Namrata Datta unveiled her evocative short film ‘Patralekha’, a work that breathes cinematic life into a hauntingly abstract song by Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, a melody steeped in yearning, unfinished affection, and the ache of words never spoken. What the song only hinted at—a love suspended between memory and silence—Datta transforms into a delicate, emotionally textured narrative of two souls once intertwined yet now separated by the quiet drift of circumstance.

In Patralekha, the visual language becomes a storyteller of its own.

The village sequences, captured under the unforgiving glare of noon, radiate a palpable heaviness: the heat, the stillness, the weight of responsibilities that anchor the woman to her home and her ailing mother. In stark contrast, the city scenes, filmed in the soft melancholy of dusk and the contemplative calm of night, mirror the man’s solitude—his evenings steeped in painting, guitar notes, and whispered reminiscence.

Through these contrasting worlds of light and shadow, Datta crafts a poignant reflection on longing, passage of time, and the fragile threads that bind two people long after life has pulled them apart.

Speaking about her inspiration, Datta shared: “The song carried a strange, unspoken pain—a love that lingered. I felt compelled to continue that story, to give shape to what the lyrics only hinted at.”

Cinematographer and co-producer Utpal Datta discussed the film’s distinctive imagery: “Their lives are in twilight—burdened yet hopeful. Our lighting mirrors that emotional landscape.”

Reflecting on the film’s minimal budget, he said with candid humour: “People like us who don’t have money should not produce films—but love for cinema makes us fearless. We didn’t calculate what we spent. We simply made the film we believed in.”

Watch the trailers here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JUEriNpdgKjdaVlqygNvGZH1aW5Ktgfa/view?usp=drive_link

Watch the full Press Conference here:

About IFFI

Born in 1952, the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) stands tall as South Asia’s oldest and largest celebration of cinema. Jointly hosted by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India and the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), State Government of Goa, the festival has grown into a global cinematic powerhouse—where restored classics meet bold experiments, and legendary maestros share space with fearless first-timers. What makes IFFI truly sparkle is its electric mix—international competitions, cultural showcases, masterclasses, tributes, and the high-energy WAVES Film Bazaar, where ideas, deals and collaborations take flight. Staged against Goa’s stunning coastal backdrop from November 20–28, the 56th edition promises a dazzling spectrum of languages, genres, innovations, and voices—an immersive celebration of India’s creative brilliance on the world stage.

For more information, Click on:

IFFI Website: https://www.iffigoa.org/

PIB’s IFFI Microsite: https://www.pib.gov.in/iffi/56/

PIB IFFIWood Broadcast Channel:  https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaEiBaML2AU6gnzWOm3F

X Handles: @IFFIGoa, @PIB_India, @PIB_Panaji

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PIB IFFI CAST AND CREW | Ritu Shukla/Sayyid Rabeehashmi/Swadhin Shaktiprasad/Darshana Rane | IFFI 56 - 083