‘AlumniSpeak’ And Film Screening Inspire Budding Filmmakers At Assam University’s Mass Communication Department

The Department of Mass Communication, Assam University, Silchar, hosted a vibrant edition of ‘AlumniSpeak’ on Monday (July 21), featuring a thought-provoking speech by noted Guwahati-based filmmaker, actor, musician, and environmental activist Arghadeep Barua. The session, themed “Regional Cinemas in the Age of Empire: Culture, Content, and the Tyranny of Commerce,” was followed by the screening of five documentary films created by alumni of the department.

During his address, Arghadeep Barua spoke on the growing visibility of Northeastern culture in Indian cinema, while urging upcoming filmmakers from the region to remain committed to original storytelling to ensure authentic representation on global platforms. He highlighted how Assamese cinema itself was born with an inclusive spirit, pointing out that Jyotiprasad Agarwala, the pioneer of Assamese cinema, had ancestral roots in Rajasthan. Agarwala went on to become the father of Assamese cinema, which establishes the fact that Assamese cinema bore its inclusive nature from its inception.

Barua was joined by fellow alumni-cum-filmmakers Gaurab Talukder, Amin Uddin Laskar, and Saikat Das, who together engaged with the students during the film screenings and post-screening discussions. The films explored a range of socially relevant themes — from wildlife and cultural conservation to innovative business practices responding to environmental challenges.

While talking about the films, Barua encouraged the attendees, comprising students from the host as well as other departments, to come up with stories around them by shedding the fear of being overshadowed by the commercial trends. He also stressed the necessity of telling the local stories and representing the indigenous culture to mitigate the gap between the regional and national landscape of cinema by highlighting the evolving landscape of regional cinema across the Northeast. Saikat Das, another alumnus, also stressed the necessity of being ethical and truthful at the time of telling stories through visual mediums.

The department’s initiative to reconnect with alumni and expose students to real-world insights through platforms like ‘AlumniSpeak’ appears to have struck a chord. Encouraged by the overwhelming response, the department is now planning to host more such interactive and inspirational events in the near future to ignite creative thinking and foster a deeper understanding of evolving trends in media and cinema.