Priyal Dholakia (Assistant Editor)
Nishita Goswami is a renowned Assamese actress, recognised for her impactful performances in regional cinema. With a captivating screen presence and versatile acting skills, she has left an indelible mark on the Assamese film industry. Nishita’s impeccable craft and talent have earned her admiration from both critics and audiences alike. Enigmatic Horizon had an exclusive chat with the leading heroine of the upcoming film “Raghav”. Here, she shares her take on the much-awaited film and her movie portrayals. She also sheds insights on the future of cinema and a lot more.
Can you tell us a bit about what kind of role we will see you in the upcoming Raghav movie?
Sure, so in my forthcoming film, Raghav, I am playing a character named “Reema.” Because I co-star in a lead role with Jatin Bora as the protagonist, my character is significant to the plot. The character has different shades throughout the movie. At the start of the film, I am playing a bubbly girl with a rosy love life. But after that, when she gets married, the entire mood of the character changes. I am happy that I got the opportunity to act in such a nuanced role.
As the movie’s release date approaches, what message or emotions do you hope viewers will take away after watching Raghav?
Raghav has a lot to offer viewers in terms of its cinematic experience. You see, Indian people are basically very emotional by nature. They value core relationships and sentiments in their lives. And they are highly attached to and connected with their families, friends, and people around them. So, I am sure this movie will appeal to our audiences, as it contains a fine blend of emotions like happiness and sadness.
Is there something new in the film that audiences might not have seen before?
First of all, this is an out-and-out commercial movie. Generally, we often face a lot of budget constraints while making an Assamese film since our industry is not very big at the moment. At times, there is no surety as to whether the producer will even get his money back or not. But the movie Raghav is a big budget movie, as compared to other movies of this industry. The production house has shelled out over 2 crores to make it, which is a significant budget and risk considering Assamese cinema. So, although the stakes are high, we have an edge to experiment with a lot of different things as the film has good financial backing. In this movie, for instance, we have tried a lot to strengthen the technical aspects of filmmaking. For example, we used a phantom camera to shoot some action sequences in the movie. It is the first time a phantom camera has ever been used in an Assamese movie. Also, it is the first time in the history of Assamese cinema that we shot the main romantic song in Ladakh, Kashmir, for a span of 13 days. Alongside that, the film also has a strong and promising star cast with veteran artists such as Mridula Boruah, Hiranya Deka, and others. So yes, all in all, the film has a promising arsenal, and I am confident that the viewers will have a lot to take back with them after they watch the movie.
You have previously worked with actor Jatin Bora multiple times. What has been your experience working with him so far?
My experience working with Jatin Da has always been incredible. I have been working with him since 2004, when I did the film Kadambari, which later went on to become a big, successful hit. It has always been superb working alongside him. He is the superstar of Assamese cinema, and rightly so! Everyone in our industry aspires to work with him. And I got the chance to star in and work on all three of his movies for JB Productions. So, I am really grateful and fortunate for that. In Raghav, he is both the director of the movie and the lead. And it was a great experience working with him on both fronts—directorial and acting. He always takes an extra step to guide us whenever we make a mistake, and he tries to make sure that every shot is perfect.
Could you tell us a bit about your journey into the Assamese film industry? Could you tell us about some of the challenges that you have faced in the film industry?
It has been almost 19 years since I started out in the industry. And my journey has remained very good throughout. Of course, I had my fair share of challenges. But overall, it has been magical and truly incredible. I have learned a lot of new things in the process and got to work alongside a lot of distinguished artists. So far, it has been an immensely valuable learning journey for me, and I have gathered many insightful lessons from it all along the way.
What has been the most challenging role you’ve played, and how did you prepare for it?
For me, I take up all my roles in a challenging stride because I look forward to learning something new from each of them. But if I have to mention it, I think my most challenging role to date would be Dinabandhoo. The late Munin Barua was the film’s director. And Bhabendra Nath Saikia, a renowned doyen in his own right, wrote it. So, that movie was pretty challenging for me, as I was very young and I got this offer early on in my career to play the role of “Bani.” So, I was indeed very nervous all through the filming of the movie. But by the end of it all, our efforts paid off with flying colors as the movie went on to be honored at the National Film Awards.
How do you feel OTT has impacted cinema?
I think that there are two sections of audience. One section does not like going to cinema halls and watching a movie on the big screen. They prefer watching films from the comfort of their homes, at their convenience. And we have another section of people who love to go out and enjoy a movie in the cinema hall. Or we have crazy cinema lovers who really cherish the delightful experience of watching a movie on the big screen with their family or friends. So, according to me, audiences pick a medium according to their own unique tastes and choices, which is absolutely fine. Both OTT and cinema go hand in hand, and neither should be treated as a threat to the other. Cinematic experience still has its own charm that cannot be replaced. For example, Jawan recently got released and made an exceedingly great run at the box office. This attests to the fact that people will always love going to movie theatres to enjoy a movie. That experience will remain unparalled, and cinema halls will never die, for sure.
How do you think AI is going to impact cinema in the future?
I do not have much idea about the implications of artificial intelligence in the present context. The younger folks who are more involved in technology and gadgets will know better about these things. But I would still like to consider myself a student of the old school. What I believe is that artificial intelligence is emerging and is coming for good. More and more people are using it and working on it. However, the essence of creative work will always be there. It will remain intact and unmatched.
Any advice for upcoming actors and filmmakers?
Yeah, of course. Nowadays, the film industry is getting increasingly competitive. When I started doing movies in 2003, the flow and times were quite simpler and easier as compared to now. These days, due to so many different kinds of content coming up, especially on the internet, it is getting tougher day by day. But I would still like to request that people who are interested in entering cinema pursue their passion wholeheartedly with hard work. I have always said this, and I will say it again: It is our responsibility to take the movie industry forward. So, we have to consistently strive towards it, continue making good movies, and let it not wither down. I know for a fact that people of this generation are very creative, driven, and talented. They will make it and definitely take the industry forward with their commitment and dedication. It is important that they make the right choices. I am indeed hopeful for a bright future for both Assamese and Indian cinema.
