Manju Borah’s latest film, Seuj Sandhan: In Search of Green, produced by Meghamallar Art Foundation, arrives at a crucial juncture in Assam’s environmental narrative. According to Global Forest Watch, Assam has lost 324,000 hectares of tree cover from 2001 to 2023. Assam includes 15 of India’s 25 most vulnerable districts to climate change. With this context, this film seeks to spotlight the urgent need for sustainable development.
However, while the film’s premise is timely and its visual presentation remarkable, it struggles to deliver a cohesive and compelling narrative.
The plot centres around Rudra, a nature enthusiast and advocate for sustainable development, as he documents the rampant deforestation and environmental degradation in Assam. His journey leads him to Gambiari Basumatary, a local woman from Sontola whose resistance against a proposed smart city project aligns with his ecological concerns. Together, they confront the destructive forces of corporate greed and systemic corruption.
The film’s focus on the tension between modern development and environmental preservation is relevant, especially given Assam’s vulnerability to climate change.
Visually, Seuj Sandhan is stunning. The cinematography captures the lush, vibrant landscapes of Assam, transforming every frame into a potential work of art. Just pause the movie and take a screenshot for a cool living room wallpaper. The film’s use of natural settings is a tribute to the state’s beauty and a poignant reminder of what stands to be lost if current trends continue.
Tarali Sarma’s sound design complements the visuals, enhancing the immersive experience and drawing the audience deeper into the film’s world. The inclusion of the late veteran actor Nipon Goswami adds a layer of poignancy, making the film a tribute to his legacy.
However, the film falters in its storytelling. The narrative is riddled with coincidences that strain believability. Rudra, the son of the construction company’s CEO, conveniently finds himself in the same village where the smart city project is planned, encountering Gambiari in a way that feels more contrived than organic.
This reliance on coincidence undermines the film’s credibility, reducing the impact of its message.
The dialogue, too, leaves much to be desired. While Seuj Sandhan attempts to adhere to the traditional Assamese film style, the language choices often feel forced and inconsistent. Rudra’s use of “Puritan Assamese” (for example: calls coral reef “prabal prachir”) juxtaposed with sporadic English phrases creates a dissonance that distracts one from the film’s intent.
Additionally, the repeated invocation of “sustainable development” becomes tiresome, especially when the film fails to provide a concrete vision of what this entails. Only if I had a penny for every time, the characters mention “sustainable development” in the film! The protagonist’s constant advocacy for sustainability lacks the depth and clarity needed to inspire action or reflection.
The director’s effort to portray the corporate elite by having them speak in English was undermined by the baffling choice of simultaneously translating the same into Assamese. This decision reflects a lack of finesse and gives the impression of a hasty execution.
Although the movie briefly addresses the significant issues of Bodoland violence and militancy, it ultimately lacks relevance to the main theme. Also, the romantic tension between Rudra and Nandini adds almost nothing to the overall narrative.
Similarly, the scenes set in Vietnam, while visually appealing, feel disconnected from the central storyline, further diluting the film’s focus.
Despite its shortcomings, Seuj Sandhan does offer a David versus Goliath narrative, pitting the determined efforts of Rudra and Gambiari against the power of corporations. However, this dynamic raises questions about the film’s true protagonist.
One cannot help but wonder if the film would have been more powerful had it centred on Gambiari, a character whose struggle is more immediate and relatable to the average Joe. After all, not everyone can do an MBA at the London School of Business and then come back as a climate warrior!
In conclusion, Seuj Sandhan is a visually captivating film that tackles an important issue but is ultimately hampered by its uneven storytelling and lack of narrative focus. While it has the potential to raise awareness about the environmental challenges facing Assam, its impact is diminished by its reliance on coincidences, inconsistent dialogues, and underdeveloped themes.
The film’s heart is in the right place, but its execution leaves much to be desired. For those interested in Assam’s environmental future, Seuj Sandhan offers a glimpse into the challenges ahead, but it stops short of meaningful solutions.
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