In a significant achievement for Assamese cinema, Harinarayan, a documentary produced by Assam down town University (AdtU), has been selected for the National Competition section of the prestigious Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) 2026. The festival will be held in Mumbai from June 15 to 21. What makes the selection even more noteworthy is that Harinarayan is the only documentary from Assam to feature in the competition section this year.
The film explores the life and contributions of Harinarayan Dutta Baruah, one of the most influential figures in the history of modern Assamese education, publishing and literary preservation. Produced by Prof. Bandana Dutta and Gariyashi Dutta under the guidance of AdtU Chancellor Dr. Narendra Nath Dutta, the documentary has been scripted and directed by Prof. Utpal Datta of the university’s Department of Performing Arts. Dr. Ruby Goswami served as the research associate for the project.
Harinarayan Dutta Baruah’s contribution to Assamese society extended far beyond education. At a time when modern schooling was taking root in Assam, he played a pioneering role in producing and publishing textbooks in Assamese. Equally significant was his work in preserving and disseminating Vaishnavite literature. His monumental compilation Sri Sri Sankardev Bakyamrit, which brought together the complete writings of Srimanta Sankardeva, remains a landmark in Assamese publishing history and is widely regarded as the first collected works of a single author published in Assamese.
Recognising his enduring legacy, Assam down town University has named its central library after Harinarayan Dutta Baruah. The university has also published a book titled Harinarayan: The Renaissance Man, edited by Prof. Utpal Datta and Dr. Ruby Goswami, in an effort to introduce his life and achievements to a wider readership. The book has been warmly received by scholars and readers alike and is increasingly being viewed as an important reference work on the subject.
The documentary has already earned acclaim on the festival circuit. It received the Best Documentary Award at the Barak International Film Festival and was praised for bringing an important yet relatively underexplored chapter of Assam’s intellectual and cultural history to the screen.
The film features observations and analyses from several eminent scholars and public intellectuals, including Prof. Ananda Bormudoi, Dr. Samudragupta Kashyap, Dr. Paramananda Majumdar, Dr. Sanjib Pal Deka, Dr. Mousumi Kandali, Jyotindra Narayan Dutta Baruah and Dr. Manju Laskar. Cinematography is by Ratul Barman, editing by Jhulan Krishna Mahanta and the background score has been composed by noted musician Tarali Sarma.
Dedicated to documentary, short fiction and animation films, the Mumbai International Film Festival is one of South Asia’s oldest and most respected film festivals. Organised by the National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC) under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, MIFF has, over the past three decades, emerged as an important platform for filmmakers from across the world.
Against this backdrop, the selection of Harinarayan is being viewed as a moment of pride not only for the filmmakers and Assam down town University but also for the wider Assamese film community. The recognition underscores the growing visibility of Assamese documentary cinema on the national stage and is expected to encourage more filmmakers to engage with subjects rooted in the region’s rich history, culture and intellectual traditions.
AdtU Documentary Harinarayan Selected for MIFF National CompetitionOnly Assamese Documentary to Make the Cut
