Down Memory Lane

Here's looking at some films made by Bidyut Kotoky over the years...

KAZIRANGA (2020)

Fiction, Hindi. TV series

SYNOPSIS

Situated in central Assam with an area of 430 sq kms, Kaziranga National Park of Assam is the home of the great Indian one-horned Rhinoceros. Owing to prevalent superstitious belief about the ‘magical curing power’ of the rhino horns, the cost of a rhino horn in the international black market, is more than that of gold or cocaine- thus making the rhinos of Kaziranga a prime target of the international smuggling cartel. On the other side - there is this group of forest guards who work tirelessly with selfless dedication to ensure the safety & security of the animals in Kaziranga against all odds and calamity. For these guards, our unsung heroes; Kaziranga is home & their extended family includes the animals of the national park.The protagonist of our story is one such forest ranger- Satyajeet Sharma. This is the story of Satyajeet's love affair with wild life & how he struggles to ensure their safety and fights to protect the national park and it's habitants, from all adversaries- the foremost being human greed.

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AVAILABLE ON AMAZON (UK & US)

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XHOIXOBOTE DHEMALITE (RAINBOW FIELDS -2018)

Fiction, Assamese

SYNOPSIS

Based on true events, Rainbow Fields is set in the Indian state of Assam in the violent period of the ‘80’s, this film is about children growing up in violent places, witnessing brutality around them and how it affects and shapes them. On a soul searching journey back to his native village on hearing the news of the death of a childhood friend, a famous film director has to confront the unresolved vestiges of a terrible childhood accident, before he loses his last chance for redemption and closure.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

27 film festivals till date.

· Selection in Indian Panorama, IFFI (Goa)

· Best Foreign Language Film, Hollywood CineFest, Los Angeles (USA)

· Best Film, Best Music Score and Best Actress at Love International film festival, Los Angeles (USA)

· Best Screenplay at Treasure Coast International Film Festival, Florida (USA)

· Best Narrative Feature, Erie International Film Festival, Pennsylvania (USA)

· First ever Assamese Film to get a commercial release in the USA

· Best Editor and Jury’s Special Mention for Child Artist, Prag Cine Awards, Assam (India)

· Jury’s Special Mention for 3 Child Artists in Shailadhar Baruah Awards, Northeast (India)

Songs from Rainbow Fields...

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GUNS & GUITARS – A MUSICAL TRAVELOGUE (2016)

Non-Fiction, English

SYNOPSIS
Guns and Guitars track the journey of the director Bidyut back to his root - Northeast India.

The 8 northeastern states connect with the rest of the country with a mere corridor of 21 km in breath at places, but shares more than 4500 km of international borders with 5 different countries. Filmed as a travelogue, this musical quest brings to light the positive influence of music emanating from the youth living in this region, which is crippled by state and non-state violence for the last half a century. The journey finally culminates on the celebratory night of “24th May -Bob Dylan’s birthday concert”, organized by the legendary northeastern musician Lou Majaw for the 41st consecutive years, where all the 8 rock bands with whom we interacted earlier, arrives to participate and perform. With guitar in their hands and songs of life and hope on their lips, these youngsters shows a promise of changing the Northeast India’s canvas of despair and anguish into one of hope and peace. Much like, Bob Dylan operated in the America of 60s, torn by civil rights movements & Vietnam War.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

The film has been part of the official selection of 17 festivals so far.

- Official Selection of the Indian Panorama in the International Film Festival of India (Goa) 2016 – the top international festival of this country.

-Selected as one of the top 100 documentaries of the year 2016 by Color Tape International Film Festival – considered the largest festival of the Southern Hemisphere.

- Awarded on the ‘best music category’ at the Finisterra Arrabida Film Art & Tourism Festival in Portugal (2017)

-Nominated for the best documentary & best director award in Sutter Creek International Film Fest (USA) – Oct ’17 & best documentary award in Alhambra Theatre Film Fest (Indiana, US) , April ’17.

FEATURED ON

EKHON NEDEKHA NADIR XIPARE (Assamese - 2012)

AS THE RIVER FLOWS (Hindi – 2015)

Bilingual Feature film, Fiction

SYNOPSIS

A social activist, Sridhar Ranjan, is missing in action in Majuli- one of the largest inhabited river island in the world. 7 years later Sridhar is about to be officially declared dead when his friend Abhijit, a journalist, comes in search of him.Abhijit is an outsider trapped in hostile, terrorist infested conditions with distant islanders.

His only hope is the beautiful local guide Sudakshina. But like the unpredictable river Brahmaputra, her existence has unseen undercurrents.Will Abhijit be able to solve the mystery? Is he walking down the same path as his friend Sridhar Ranjan?

Does a similar fate await him, as the River flows?

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

- Best script (Bidyut Kotoky) and best actor (Sanjay Suri) award in the 2013 Washington DC South-Asian Film Festival.

- Best script award’ for the period 2010-2012 in the Assam State Film Award.

-Audience Choice Award in 2014 North Carolina South-Asian film fest

FEATURED ON

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Songs from As The River Flows...

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BHRAIMOMAN THEATRE - WHERE OTHELLO SAILS WITH THE TITANIC (2006)

Non-fiction, English

SYNOPSIS

From September to April every year, audiences in Assam pack the makeshift auditorium with great abiding enthusiasm. More than 40 professional theatre companies’ move from one village to another with their cast, crew and entire infrastructure…Each theatre group is a self-contained studio unto itself and is the source of employment to more than 150 people. The players and technicians spend almost 9 months a year together, as a mobile family. Almost 40 % of the income generated is set aside for development of schools, and other social causes. Plays range from subjects like ‘Titanic’ moving majestically in these meadows to be broken by iceberg to western masterpieces like ‘Othello’ or contemporary subjects ‘Lady Diana, AIDS, drug addiction, terrorism and even bold and experimental subjects like mercy killings! All this comes to life on a huge ‘Double Stage’ – a space of 3600 square feet.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

- Special mention in the National Film Awards (2006)

- screened at the Mumbai International Film Festival (2018), one of the top festivals for short films & documentaries in the world.

-3rd best documentary in SOMS Video Film Festival, Kochi (2007)

FEATURED ON

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED - WHERE THE JOURNEY IS THE DESTINATION (2000)

SYNOPSISThe film takes you to one of the lesser-known parts of India, deep into the heart of Arunachal Pradesh. The journey begins as a holiday, whose final destination is the remote border town of Tawang, nestled high up in the Himalayas. As we move deeper into the heart of this border state, the holiday turns into a journey of discovery, thanks to a few surprises provided by Mother Nature and man alike. Tales of valour, rebirth and total faith unfold as we go along. Nature also lifts her veil to reveal a land of spectacular beauty, blessed with snow-capped mountains, lakes, waterfalls and the purest air on earth. The journey is a kaleidoscope of images that encourages the viewer (as it did, us) to reflect on the senselessness of the rat race we are caught up in, and revel in the simple pleasures of life instead. The film embodies the spirit of adventure (and self-discovery), where the journey is the destination.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

- Screened at the Mumbai International Film Festival (2000), one of the top festivals for short films & documentaries in the world, along with few other festivals across the globe.