HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Jan 11: On Wednesday, the Assamese feature film ‘The Nellie Story’ achieved a significant milestone by securing the esteemed Silver Kailasha Award for best script at the 9th Ajanta-Ellora International Film Festival (AIFF). The film, written and directed by filmmaker Parthajit Baruah, provides a compassionate portrayal of the Nellie massacre, a somber episode in Assam’s socio-political history.
Chaired by acclaimed Indian actor Dhritiman Chatterjee, the jury commended the film for its exploration of a vital contemporary issue and its humane perspective on the suffering of innocent people. Competing against eight other films in the Indian Competition category, Baruah’s creation stood out for its depth and societal relevance.
The Indian Competition Section featured films like Manoj Shinde’s ‘Valli’, Jayant Digambar Somalkar’s ‘Sthal’, Shahrukhkhan Chavada’s ‘Kayo Kayo Colour? | Which Colour?’, Shivadhwaj Shetty’s ‘Koramma’, Chhatrapal Ninawe’s ‘Ghaath’, Dhruv Solanki’s ‘It’s All In Your Head’, Lubdhak Chatterjee’s ‘Whispers of Fire & Water’, and Don Palathara’s ‘Family’.
Expressing his gratitude, the debutant director remarked, “Our film’s selection in the Indian competition category at this festival, alongside films premiered at esteemed platforms like Locarno, Berlin, TIFF, etc., was an honour in itself, given the level of competition. I feel truly humbled to receive this prestigious award and even more inspired to continue producing meaningful work.”
The film had its World Premiere on December 7 at the 29th Kolkata International Film Festival.
Javed Akhtar, the veteran lyricist-screenwriter, was also honoured at the festival with the Padmapani Lifetime Achievement Award for his remarkable contributions to cinema.
Previously known as the Aurangabad International Film Festival (AIFF), the Ajanta-Ellora Film Festival is organised annually by Nath Group, Yashwantrao Chavan Centre, Mumbai, with the support of the government of Maharashtra and India. ‘The Nellie Story’ (Nellier Kotha) additionally enjoyed a theatrical release in cinema halls across Assam on December 8, 2023.
