Assamese cinema drew widespread attention at the 2025 International Film Festival of India (IFFI) with the showcase of two significant works, the feature film Bhaimon Da and the short non-feature Patralekha. Both films pay tribute to iconic figures in Assam’s cultural landscape filmmaker Munin Barua and musician Bhupen Hazarika.

Bhaimon Da, directed by Sasanka Samir, is the first commercial biopic on Munin Barua, affectionately known as Bhaimon Da, who significantly shaped Assamese mainstream cinema. The film traces Barua’s journey from humble beginnings to cinematic prominence, highlighting his creative struggles, achievements, and the making of some of Assam’s most beloved films featuring stars such as Biju Phukan, Mridula Barua, Zubeen Garg, and Jatin Bora.

Speaking at the IFFI press conference, Samir said, “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 production involved over 120 locations, 360 performers, and nearly five years of research, interviews, and archival work.

The short film Patralekha, directed by Assamese filmmaker Namrata Datta, draws inspiration from a haunting song by Bhupen Hazarika. The film explores a story of love, longing, and separation, contrasting village life under the harsh midday sun with the quiet, reflective evenings of the city. Cinematographer and co-producer Utpal Datta noted that the film’s visual style mirrors the emotional states of the characters.

Speaking on the project, Namrata Datta said, “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.” Utpal Datta added with 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.”

Both films were received with enthusiasm by audiences at IFFI, highlighting the enduring creativity and cultural legacy of Assamese cinema.