Lost Assamese Films Recovered From Forgotten Storage Sacks

Guwahati: A collection of dusty sacks stored in a loft contained more than forgotten junk. They held lost chapters of Assamese cinematic history. Cultural researcher Tridip Goswami and entrepreneur Rajesh Kumar More discovered three U-matic low-band cassettes of the 1979 film Ashroy hidden inside. For years, the film was presumed destroyed in Calcutta, as claimed by producer and actor Mirel Kuddus.

Ashroy remains famous for its soundtrack. Songs including Sudhisa Tomaloi Kimanno Moram, Kino Moramor Jori, and Sou Meghor Saa Dekhile still carry weight with fans. The discovery was shocking. "A film we mourn as lost to time, a cinematic work thought to be gone forever, may still hold its visuals intact for the world to see," Goswami said. The film features the work of director Dulal Roy, composer Ramen Barua, singers Dwipen Barua and Namita Bhattacharya, and actor Nipon Goswami.

Restoration will not be cheap. While initial cleaning happens in Guwahati, the fragile tapes require transport to specialized facilities in Mumbai. Goswami promised to cover the costs to ensure the project moves forward. Mirel Kuddus granted his full consent and encouragement for the restoration.

The search also yielded two U-matic cassettes of the 1990s children's film Sriman Maimon, directed by Brajen Borah. Borah praised the team for their dedication. Through his Heritage Jhankar archive, Goswami continues to hunt for forgotten artifacts. He tracks down gramophone records, old tickets, booklets, magazines, and posters dating back to the 1950s. Every recovered piece saves a fragment of local culture from total disappearance.