Jwlwi: The Seed

Jwlwi - The Seed is a 2019 Bodo-language Indian film directed by Rajni Basumatary. Set in Assam's insurgency ridden 90s, Jwlwi- The Seed is "a story of hope lost and found through resolute perseverance even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds."^[1][2][3]

Jwlwi - The Seed
Directed by	Rajni Basumatary
Screenplay by	Rajni Basumatary
Produced by	Rajni Basumatary Jani Viswanath
Starring	Rajni Basumatary Shimang Chainary Raja Narzary Kanyakorn Kiratichotiyangkoon
Cinematography	Suruj Deka
Edited by	Hemanti Sarkar
Music by	Avinash Baghel
Production company	Manna Films
Running time	90 minutes
Country	India
Language	Bodo

Cast

• Rajni Basumatary as Alaari
• Shimang Chainary as Erak
• Jayanta Narzary as Nizwm
• Kanyakorn Kiratichotiyangkoon as Boonsri
• Queen Hazarika as Mira
• Jeffrey Daimary as Jeffrey
• Pansy Brahma as Ansumwi
• Raj Agnihotri as Major Singh

Production

Jwlwi was produced by Rajni Basumatary under her banner Manna Films and co-produced by artist and philanthropist Jani Viswanath.^[4] The filming of the latter part of the movie was completed with crowd funding through Wishberry.^[5] Principal photography began in 2018 and was shot entirely in Assam, India and Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Post-production for the film took place in Mumbai, India. The film is edited by Hemanti Sarkar who has previously edited renowned Bollywood films such as Stree, Secret Superstar, Airlift, English Vinglish and Peepli Live.

Music

The background score was composed by Avinash Baghel.

There are three songs in the film –

1. Jeraokhi Thaya Manw (Lyrics – Delvis Basumatary, Music – Delvis Basumatary)
2. Kharson Kharson (Lyrics – Chatrajit Narzary, Music – Gwmwthao Basumatary)
3. Jwngni Nanghthapnai (Lyrics – Swrangcha Sengra Basumatary and Delvis Basumatary, Music – Delvis Basumatary)

Screening

Jwlwi has been screened in international film festivals such as Bengaluru International Film Festival,^[6] Chennai International Film Festival, Guwahati International Film Festival, Kolkata International Film Festival and Pune International Film Festival.^[7] Jwlwi was privately screened on 27 May 2019 in Chiang Mai, Thailand at SFX Cinema, Maya Lifestyle Mall, followed by a Q&A session.^[8] The screening was organized by the Consulate of India, Chiang Mai in association with Indian Studies Center Chiang Mai University (ISCCMU). It was attended by various Consuls General and Honorary Consuls of India, China, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Myanmar, Portugal and Switzerland. The first trailer and poster for Jwlwi were released at the screening. The film had its official Thai premiere in Bangkok, Thailand at the Foreign Correspondent Club.^{[citation needed]}

Jwlwi earned Basumatary the Special Jury Mention for directing at the Guwahati International Film Festival^[9] and a Special Jury Mention at the Bengaluru International Film Festival.^[10] The film also received awards for Best Screen Writer (for Basumatary) and Best Film Editor (for Hemanti Sarkar) at the 4th Sailadhar Baruah Memorial Film Awards.^[11]

Release

The trailer for Jwlwi was released on YouTube on 26 May 2019 through Basumatary's channel. The second trailer and music videos from the film were released in the next couple of months. Jwlwi was screened in villages of the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) in rural Assam through mobile theatres in late 2019.^[12]

Jwlwi had a limited theatrical release in lower Assam on 15 November 2019. It ran houseful consecutively for two weeks in Gold Cinema, Kokrajhar and one housefull week in Jollymax Cinema, Bongaigaon.^[13]

Jwlwi is yet to be commercially released in screens outside of Assam. The film is now streaming on the streaming site Moviesaints.

Accolades

• Kalaguru Bishnu Rabha Award for Special Jury Award: Outstanding Performance (Rajni Basumatary) - 8th Assam State Film Awards (2023)^[14]
• Phunu Barua Award for Best Film in Other Language in Assam - 8th Assam State Film Awards (2023)^[15]
• Best Film (Other Than Assamese) - 11th Prag Cine Awards (2021)
• Best Screenplay (Rajni Basumatary) - 4th Sailadhar Baruah Memorial Film Awards (2020)
• Best Editor (Hemanti Sarkar) - 4th Sailadhar Baruah Memorial Film Awards (2020)
• Special Jury Mention - Bengaluru International Film Festival (2020)
• Official Selection - Chennai International Film Festival (2020)
• Official Selection - Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (2020)
• Official Selection - Pune International Film Festival (2020)
• Official Selection - Tehran International Cine Fest (2020)
• Official Selection - Kolkata International Film Festival (2019)
• Special Jury Mention for Direction - Guwahati International Film Festival (2019)

See also

• Lists of Indian films
• List of Bodo-language films
• List of Assamese films

References

1. Gaurav Das (31 May 2019). "Actress to screen conflict tale in rural BTAD". Telegraph India. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
2. "असम में बोडो लोगों तक फिल्मों की पहुंच नहीं, इसलिए हम इन्हें उन तक पहुंचाते हैं: रजनी बसुमतारी". The Wire Hindi. 30 September 2019.
3. "Happy To Tell Stories Depicting Horror Of AFSPA: Assam Filmmaker Rajni Basumatary On Her Film 'Jwlwi - The Seed'". Outlook India.
4. "Happy To Tell Stories Depicting Horror Of AFSPA: Assam Filmmaker Rajni Basumatary On Her Film 'Jwlwi - The Seed'". Outlook India. 23 June 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
5. "Jwlwi The Seed". Wishberry. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
6. "Jwlwi - The Seed". Bengaluru International Film Festival. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
7. "Jwlwi - The Seed". Pune International Film Festival. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
8. "Private Screening of 'Jwlwi- The Seed'". Chiang Mai City Life. 27 May 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
9. "Curtains down on Guwahati international film festival". Business Standard. 6 November 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
10. "Panghrun wins Best Film, Special Jury Award for Biriyaani at BIFFES 2020". Cinestaan. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
11. "Sailadhar Baruah Memorial Film Awards Announced/". Pratidin Time. 26 December 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
12. Gaurav Das (31 May 2019). "Actress to screen conflict tale in rural BTAD". Telegraph India. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
13. "Bodo Film 'Jwlwi-The Seed' gets Huge Response from Viewers". Sentinel Assam. 19 November 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
14. "8th Assam State Film Awards announced, Jonaki Porua–Fireflies, Bulbul Can Sing win best film award". NE Now.
15. "8th Assam State Film Awards announced, Jonaki Porua–Fireflies, Bulbul Can Sing win best film award". NE Now.

External links

• Jwlwi: The Seed at IMDb  
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