KOLKATA: Assamese actor-turned-director Aimee Baruah’s documentary on love jihad in Assam is in competition at the ongoing 5th South Asian Short Film Festival. The director has interviewed multiple women, who spoke on camera about their brutal victimization. ‘Screaming Butterflies’, which won the Silver Conch award for Best Documentary Film at the Mumbai International Film Festival recently, will also be screened by the Films Division in association with the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) this month.
This documentary begins with a disclaimer that states: “The content of the film or any part of the film will not be used as an evidential influence in the court of law. The interviews of the victims are authentic. They gave permission and deliberately wanted the director not to blur their faces, although their cases are still under court jurisdiction”.
Baruah started shooting in early 2021. “I knew 26 girls from Assam who were duped and tortured by men who gave false religious identities during courtship. I am still in touch with everyone. I first wanted to hear their stories. I sought their permission for filming once I had heard them out,” said Baruah, who directed ‘Semkhor’, the National Award-winning first-ever film in the Dimasa language.
After speaking with all 26, Baruah decided to focus on four women. While speaking, she would sometimes operate the camera herself so that they would be able to talk freely.
“In front of a lawyer, they gave me written consent to disclose their identities. Their stories, they hoped, would save other girls from being duped this way. Every word they spoke came out from the depths of truth. My film is not about targeting one community. It is wrong for a person from any faith to dupe girls this way and force them to convert,” Baruah said.
Baruah understands that despite all the efforts society can still be unkind to victims. “They hardly have friends even now. Unfortunately, our laws are not strong enough to punish the perpetrators,” the director said.
