The release date of the much-awaited first full-length Assamese feature film AEI MAATITE (by ANGEEKAR Films), on the witch hunting issue, will be released on 6th October 2017 across Assam. This was announced in a press conference attended by the film’s Director Dr Sitanath Lahkar and star actor Mr Rupam Chetia, along with the film’s distributor Goenka Enterprises’ Proprietor Mr Shankar Lall Goenka and digital content providing company UFO Moviez India’s General Manager (Sales & Distribution) Mr Sourav Dutta in Guwahati.
AEI MAATITE has a very strong message against witchcraft, upholding the value of scientific temperament and human life. The film focusses on Assam’s witch hunting problem and how a section of people are using witchcraft for their own vetted interest. Witchcraft has no basis or reasoning at all and is shrouded with the darkness of superstition that needs to be overcome by the society – this is the say of the film.
At the press conference, Dr Lahkar said: “It is really a special day for all of us in AEI MAATITE to announce the release date. We have travelled exactly two years since we first announced the project in 2015. Despite the ongoing crisis period of Assamese cinema, we truly hope that people will watch and appreciate the film, which we believe is exceptional from the point of story, acting and speed.”
The movie is directed by independent filmmaker and eminent theatre personality Dr Lahkar and is an adaptation of his famous stage play TAMASAA on the burning problem of witch hunting. The Story, Screenplay, Dialogues and Lyrics have also been penned by Dr Lahkar, former Principal of Cotton College.
AEI MAATITE’s distributor and a veteran in Assamese film industry, Mr Shankar Lall Goenka said: “It is a good film on a very important subject affecting our society. The film has been made very nicely and sensitively. We will do everything possible to take it to maximum number of people in Assam.”
The ‘action-drama’ film has some very critical scenes, shooting of which were done with utmost care and precision. Such type of rustic action scenes are hardly seen in Assamese films. Cinematically, the film showcases inhuman killings in the name of witch hunting.
Star actor Mr Rupam Chetia said, “Working in this film was a very good experience for me, especially because it is on such an important social issue. The way Lahkar Sir has handled the subject in the film, I believe any movie enthusiast will simply love AEI MAATITE when it is released.”
UFO Moviez’s Mr Sourav Dutta said, “We are very happy to be associated with this battle against superstition, which has killed hundreds of people of our state. Our sole effort will be to offer our support to screen AEI MAATITE in as many cinema halls as the distributor can book on 6th October this year.”
ANGEEKAR Films received clearance from the Central Board of Film Certification (Censor Board) for AEI MAATITE with a U/A certificate, without any cut or modification.
The Official Teaser of the movie was released in March 2o17 and received widespread appreciation:
