Tezpur University marks its 25th year by revisiting Assam’s film heritage

The Department of Mass Communication and Journalism opened its Silver Jubilee year with archival screenings, a documentary filmmaking workshop by Parthajit Baruah, and an interaction with Rima Das, linking the occasion to the legacy of Assamese cinema pioneer Jyoti Prasad Agarwala.

Tezpur University began the Silver Jubilee year of its Department of Mass Communication and Journalism with a programme rooted in Assam’s cinematic history, bringing together archival film material, documentary learning, and conversations with contemporary filmmakers.
The opening coincided with March 10, the 91st anniversary of the release of Joymoti, the first Assamese film directed by Jyoti Prasad Agarwala, who is widely regarded as the father of Assamese cinema. The department used the date to connect its 25th year with a defining moment in the cultural history of Assam.

The inaugural session included a tribute to the state’s film legacy through rare archival visuals and scenes from early Assamese films such as Joymoti and Indramalati. The audience was also shown a rare visual clip depicting Agarwala’s return from Shillong to Tezpur during the final days of his life, in keeping with his wish to return to his hometown.
Prof. Abhijit Bora, senior faculty member of the department, said the date gave the opening added significance as it brought the department’s milestone year together with the memory of Jyoti Prasad Agarwala and the beginnings of Assamese cinema.

The academic sessions opened with a workshop on documentary filmmaking by filmmaker and film scholar Parthajit Baruah. The session introduced students to research methods, narrative design, ethical storytelling, and the role of documentaries in understanding social and political realities. Baruah also reflected on the department’s 25 year journey, saying it had already produced notable journalists, filmmakers, and creative professionals, while pointing to the department’s active academic environment and the engagement between students and faculty.
A special moment during the programme was the felicitation of filmmaker Rima Das for her recent international recognition. Das received the Crystal Bear Special Mention for Best Film at the 2026 Berlin International Film Festival for Not a Hero, and the honour was formally presented to her by Prof. Joya Chakraborty, senior faculty member of the department.

Later, Rima Das interacted with students and spoke about her path as an independent filmmaker and the changing space for regional cinema. Referring to films such as Village Rockstars, Bulbul Can Sing, and Tora’s Husband, she shared her thoughts on storytelling, working with limited resources, and staying truthful to one’s creative voice. She encouraged students to trust their stories and said strong storytelling matters more than scale, adding that even a film made on a mobile phone can travel far if the craft is honest.
Dr. Manoj Deori, Head of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, said the programme marked the beginning of the department’s 25th anniversary observances. The opening drew students, faculty members, and research scholars, setting the tone for a year that will include lectures, workshops, screenings, and interactions with media professionals, filmmakers, and scholars from across the country.

Established in 2001, the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at Tezpur University has developed into an important centre for media education and research in Northeast India. By opening its Silver Jubilee year through cinema, the department placed academic reflection and regional cultural memory in the same frame.

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