Jahnu Barua's film on Ahom Warrior "Lachit Borphukan" to hit screens by 2022

GUWAHATI

Assamese director Jahnu Barua’s film on Assam war hero and legendary Ahom general, Lachit Borphukan, is expected to hit the screens by the end of 2022.

The film will be produced by the Guwahati-based Dream House Productionz, along with other top production houses of the country.

“For well over 20-years, I have been living with this dream of doing a film on my favourite war-hero Lachit. There were a number of government initiatives to this effect, including proposals from two former Governors, but because of budgetary constraints the production of such a mega project could not be taken up,” Barua, a 12-time national film award winner, said.

The film will be in Hindi, with a leading actor playing the role of the Ahom general, who defeated the Mughal army in the Battle of Saraighat in 1671.

“It will be after more than seven decades of independent India that Assam’s war hero and pride of India will get his overdue limelight on the national and international stage,” he said.

The work on the film has already begun and the production on the film is likely to start by October 2021.

Barua also said that research on the project has already begun under the guidance of JN Phukan, former head of department of history in Guwahati University, to depict the accuracy of events leading to the Battle of Saraighat, which captured the Ahom General to the status of a legend.

Barua said he now wants to depict the story of Lachit Borphukan’s life and times across India through the film, because he fought for integrity of Assam from the clutches of the Mughals, and is revered as a warrior for his leadership and heroism.

The 68-year-old filmmaker, who has been conferred Padma Shri (2003) and Padma Bhushan (2015), has written and directed a number of Assamese and Hindi films.

Some of his popular films include Halodhia Choraye Baodhan Khai (1987), Firingoti (1992), Xagoroloi Bohu Door (1995), Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara (2005), Konikar Ramdhenu (2003), Baandhon (2012), and Ajeyo (2014) among others.

(Edited by Gabriel G Momin)