New documentary on village split by India-Bangladesh fence

Mumbai (IANS) – Subimal Bhattacharjee, who had produced director Utpal Borpujari’s documentary “Memories Of A Forgotten War”, is coming up with “In Spite Of The Fence”, a short documentary film made in a village called Mahadevpur part 3 in Katigorah block of Assam’s Cachar district.

The film shows the life around the village that was divided into two parts in 2011 when the border fence was erected between India and Bangladesh in that region.

A few years ago, after going through a news report about the plight of the villagers, Bhattacharjee, who has produced and directed the film, visited and interacted with the villagers. He then made up his mind to make a short film on the village and highlight their day-to-day life, happiness and sadness and yet pride in being Indians.

In the documentary he covered the life on both sides of the fence, the interactions among the villagers from either side and their occasions to celebrate together.

“‘In Spite Of The Fence’ is a short documentary that covers the life of villagers in a remote corner of Assam where the village has been divided in the India-Bangladesh fence constructed in 2011,” said Bhattacharjee.

“It was very touching to see the villagers including many relatives whose houses went on either side of the fence and so, I did the film to show their situation. Those on the other side of the fence became time bound. The entry and exit were with identification. Despite being Indians, they are made to feel like foreigners,” he added.

The documentary also shows the role of the Border Security Force.

It’s been shot keeping in mind viewers of all age groups and all geographies and is subtitled in English. Apart from contribution of the villagers, folk singer Bikramjit Baulia also lent his voice to the project.

The team of cameramen and sound recordists were also from Silchar and Joydeep Chakrabarty did the local coordination. The editing work was done in Delhi under the guidance of Tarun Bhikonde.

It will release on September 20.

–IANS
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