Volume IV Special Issue V June 2024

Name of Author : Dwitun Basumatary

Title of the paper : Timeless Narratives in the film Dau Huduni Methai

Abstract: North-Eastern Region of India has witnessed a insurgency-related fatalities, totaling thousands of lives lost due to communal violence, regional disturbances, insurgency, counterinsurgency operations, and conflicts among erstwhile comrades of militant organizations. The majority of victims are ordinary civilians with no affiliation to either insurgents or counterinsurgency efforts. These include impoverished adivasis, wage-earning laborers, and rural villagers struggling for survival. Despite having no stake in separatist agendas like a sovereign Nagaland or an independent Assam, they bear the brunt of the violence. Against this backdrop, the film Dau Huduni Methai Song of The Horned Owl portrays the impact of insurgency and counterinsurgency on common people through the lens of Raimali, a young rape victim. Reflecting on her experiences while lying in an abandoned house, she recounts how separatist violence disrupts not only her life but also that of her lover and their families. The film juxtaposes this intrusive violence with indigenous folklore and the enduring landscape of Assam, highlighting the contrast between the transient nature of conflict and the timeless essence of the region.

Keywords : Folklore, Film, Assam, Conflict, Memory

DOI :

Page Number : 141-145