Assamese director awarded at New York fest

Debutant filmmaker Sadananda Gogoi bagged the Best International Directorial Debut award at the recently concluded New York International Film and Video Festival for his Assamese short film Shatikar Andhakar (Darkness of the Century). “My film is about how superstitious beliefs continue to adversely affect people’s lives in our society even in the 21st century,” said Gogoi, a musician-turned-filmmaker whose 18-minute film is the story of an educated couple coming from two different castes and falling victim to superstitions that are still in vogue in society. “A real life incident in my neighbourhood inspired me to make this film,” said Gogoi who is now working on a film on the life of the Dalai Lama.