New documentary brings back forgotten memories of war

National Award-winning film critic-turned-filmmaker Utpal Borpujari has come up with a documentary titled "Memories of a Forgotten War" that collects reminiscences of a number of World War II veterans from Japan, Britain and India as well as war witnesses from Manipur and Nagaland.

Produced by noted defence analyst and cyber security expert Subimal Bhattacharjee, the film has been shot in Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Delhi, Japan and Britain by a multinational crew.

"The documentary aims at stories of bravery and valour of a generation of people in a factual and emotionally-connective way. It's a film that deals with the subject not as a military one but as one that impacted the lives of many individuals in many ways," Borpujari, whose previous documentary on Naga folk music, "Songs of the Blue Hills", had received critical acclaim, said in a statement.

The film's background score has been composed by National Award-winning Assamese musician Anurag Saikia.

"We decided to make the film for two important reasons: One, it's an important part of the history of northeastern India that needed to be looked at from humanistic point of view before it faded away and too late. And two, that as someone hailing from the region, I feel strongly about bringing out positive narratives from northeastern India that is often in the news for the wrong reasons," said Bhattacharjee.

The interviews with various war veterans and witnesses that have been used in this film are interspersed with depictions of how those places that saw bloody battles look in today's times.

"The journey between the past and the present has been done in a manner that recalls the history and makes it relevant to today's times, helping the viewer to understand how history of seven decades back is important for today's times," said Borpujari.