Kenny Basumatary ‘s Assamese film ‘Jiya’ premiered in Guwahati

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 12, 2024

The premiere of the Assamese feature film ‘Jiya’, directed by Kenny Basumatary and produced by Sarmistha Chakravorty, was houseful at Matrix Cinemas, Beltola in Guwahati on Sunday.

The film received a standing ovation as the audience was left spellbound by the film’s appealing subject and treatment. The film will be released across theatres on May 17. 

On the occasion of Mother’s Day, the film ‘Jiya’ resonated deeply with the audience, capturing the journey and challenges of a resilient single mother navigating contemporary society. The narrative revolves around the protagonist, Jiya (portrayed by Sarmistha Chakravorty), as she confronts the trials of escaping an abusive marriage, while also shouldering the responsibilities of single parenthood. Jiya faces the daunting task of fulfilling her daughter Nupur’s (Aradhya Mahanta) aspirations, managing parental expectations, and contending with societal judgment that perceives her as ‘available’.

‘Jiya’ has already won the Best Film Award at the Prag Cine Awards this year along with three other awards for Best Screenplay and Dialogue (Kenny Basumatary & Sarmistha Chakravorty), Best Singer Male (AngaragPapon Mahanta) and Best Background Score (Ambar Das).

‘Jiya’ is filmmaker Kenny Basumatary’s first ‘drama which is widely acclaimed for comedy and action films.

Written and produced by Sarmistha Chakravorty, ‘Jiya’ also explores themes of friendship, particularly as it portrays Pallavi (Eepsita Hazarika) emerging as a steadfast friend and guide, providing unwavering support to Jiya. Departing from a toxic job, Jiya finds solace in Pallavi’s workplace, where she encounters the courteous Abhi (Reeky Sharma). This marks a pivotal moment in the narrative, leading to a unique turn of events.

“Jiya strives to underscore the resilience of contemporary women in facing life’s challenges head-on. Through Jiya’s portrayal, we aim to honour every woman’s unwavering strength and determination,” expressed Sarmistha Chakravorty, the writer, producer, and actor of the film.

Director Kenny Basumatary, who earlier described ‘Jiya’ as his first ‘serious, but not a boring’ film, said that he is overwhelmed to see the audience’s reaction. “We created a very beautiful film and now we wait for May 17 when the cinema lovers will have their say. I am sure they will love the work put in by the whole cast and the crew,” he said.