Ishu
{{about||the abbreviated name of Iga Province|Ishū}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Ishu.jpg
| caption = Ishu poster
| director = Utpal Borpujari
| writer = Utpal Borpujari
| producer = Children's Film Society, India
| starring = Kapil Garo, Bishnu Khargharia, Leishangthem Tonthoingambi Devi
| released = {{Film date|2017}}
| country = India
| language = Assamese
}}
Ishu is a 2017 Assamese language feature film written and directed by Utpal Borpujari, a film critic and former journalist. Produced by Children's Film Society, India (CFSI), the film is inspired by a novel written by Assamese writer Manikuntala Bhattacharya. Set in a remote village in Goalpara district, Ishu stars Kapil Garo as the titular character, along with Bishnu Khargharia and Tonthoingambi Leishangthem Devi. In 2018, the film was awarded the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Assamese at the 65th National Film Awards.{{Cite web |date=2018-04-16 |title=National Award-winning Assamese film, Ishu, starts a new conversation on witch-hunting—but from a child's perspective |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/assam/national-award-winning-assamese-film-ishu-starts-a-new-conversation-on-witch-hunting-but-from-a-childs-point-of-view-5139483/ |access-date=2022-06-07 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2020-08-29 |title=Assam's filmmaker Utpal Borpujari's 'Memories of a Forgotten War' on World War II to premiere on Moviesaints |url=http://nenow.in/north-east-news/assam/assams-filmmaker-utpal-borpujaris-documentary-memories-of-a-forgotten-war-on-world-war-ii-to-premiere-on-moviesaints.html |access-date=2022-06-07 |website=North East Now |language=en-US}} The film also won the Best Film title at the third Sailadhar Baruah Film Awards in Assam.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2019-01-04 |title=Assam: Utpal Borpujari's Ishu bags Sailadhar Baruah film award |url=http://nenow.in/entertainment/assam-utpal-borpujaris-ishu-bags-sailadhar-baruah-film-award.html |access-date=2022-06-07 |website=North East Now |language=en-US}} It was also screened at the 1st Eikhoigi Imphal International Film Festival 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thesangaiexpress.com/Encyc/2022/3/30/By-Our-Staff-ReporterIMPHAL-Mar-29-Manipur-State-Film-Development-Society-MSFDS-has-announce.amp.html|title='Eikhoigi Imphal Intl Film Fest' to kick off from Apr 2 |accessdate=13 February 2025|newspaper=The Sangai Express}}
Casting
Kapil is a ten-year-old school going boy from a village in Assam. He was chosen by Borpujari from 300-odd children for the role. Its casts also include Bishnu Khargoria, Leishangthem Tonthoingambi Devi, and Chetana Das among others.{{Cite web |last=Raman |first=Sruthi Ganapathy |title=A 10-year-old boy witnesses the horrors of witch-hunting in Assam in 'Ishu' |url=https://scroll.in/reel/846513/a-10-year-old-boy-witnesses-the-horrors-of-witch-hunting-in-assam-in-ishu |access-date=2022-06-07 |website=Scroll.in |date=14 August 2017 |language=en-US}}
Shooting
Screening
The film has been screened at various film festivals across the globe. In April 2022 the film has been selected to screen at EIIFF.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-01 |title=First Eikhoigi Imphal International Film Festival from April 2 |url=https://thenewsmill.com/first-eikhoigi-imphal-international-film-festival-from-april-2/ |access-date=2022-06-07 |language=en-US}}
References
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