EMERGENCE OF CINEMA AS POPULAR CULTURE AMONG THE BODOS OF NORTHEAST INDIA IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY: AN EMPIRICAL AND HISTORICAL REVIEW

Abstract

Popular culture is a set of practices, beliefs and objects that are dominant in a society which are organised by the people. It is the accumulation of cultural objects or products such as music, film, arts, literature, games, fashion, dance etc. which are widely consumed by the majority of a society’s population.  Similarly, in Bodo society popular culture occupies a prominent place. Cultural objects such as film, music, dance, fashion, games etc. have become dominant in Bodo society. The film has emerged in the last quarter of the twentieth century in Bodo society and developed into new popular culture among the Bodos. With the production of Daina, an Indian Bodo Documentary film directed by Amar Hazarika in 1984, the Bodos put their first step in the world of film. It was followed by Jariminni Khongkor in 1985, which was produced under the direction of Garlabata Basumatary. In 1986, Alayaron was produced by Bodo Film Production under the direction of Jwngdao Bodosa at Kokrajhar. It was the first Bodo feature film which won the 33rd National Film Awards in 1986 for the best feature film in Bodo. It gave a new vigour and renaissance to the Bodo culture and society. Thus, from the last quarter of the twentieth century Bodo film had emerged as a part of popular culture in the Bodo society.