At the International Film Festival of India, a cross-cultural, cross-genre dialogue took the stage today as the cast and crew of three compelling films came together for a lively press conference filled with insight, emotion, and humour. In an engaging exchange, the creators of ‘Nilgiris: A Shared Wilderness,’ ‘Mukkam Post Bombilwadi,’ and ‘Sikaar’
unpacked the rich and varied themes woven into their films.
‘Sikaar’: A Tribute, A Journey, and a Cinematic First for Assam
The session opened on a deeply emotional note as ‘Sikaar’ director Debangkar Borgohain remembered the film’s lead actor, musician Zubeen Garg, who passed away recently. Having collaborated for nearly two decades, Debangkar recalled how he originally approached Zubeen only for the music. “He heard the story and said he wanted to act,” he smiled, before adding quietly, “This is the last film of his to release while he was with us. It’s been 64 days since he passed. He would’ve been happy to be here today.”
Debangkar also reflected on the extraordinary production journey of ‘Sikaar,’ the first Assamese film to be extensively shot abroad, with nearly 70% filmed in London. With most of the team unable to travel, the director worked remotely from Guwahati, often “sitting under mosquito nets” while guiding the shoot through livestreams, a remark that drew warm laughter from the room.
He spoke of the overwhelming reception the film received at IFFI. “Seeing houseful shows and people from different parts of the country appreciating it makes me happy. I want to portray the real Assam. One, full of strength and dignity,” he said.
On concerns regarding OTT visibility for regional films, Debangkar noted that while these platforms have expanded global access, they often fail to give regional cinema the spotlight it deserves.
