My Real Life & My Reel Life by Mridula Baruah

I remember when we were young, our parents organised a session of ‘moina parijat’ [a regional children's welfare institution that organizes events] in the Garden. Since we were very young, we couldn't participate much. We snacked and idled away. As we grew up, Bihu Mela [a seasonal public festival event] was organised every spring. Along with sports, we participated in various competitions winning quite a handful of prizes. 

In those days, we often went to movies at the Chariali Talkies in Bishwanath Chariali. It was the only theatre there. Whenever a good film was released, especially an Assamese film, everyone in the house would watch it together. I was very fascinated by the child characters in the film. We would come home and play the characters from the film. 

We often missed school week because of how far it was. So from fourth to ninth grade, I couldn't participate in any extra curricular activities at school. But we fulfilled our desires at the Bihu fair. Moreover, I was so shy at the time that I was always reluctant to take the lead in any program. Later, everyone would have a discussion regarding my acting skills when I acted in a film. How could such a shy girl act? The will to write poetry can emerge anytime. When I was in ninth grade, I wrote a poem. I placed second when I participated in the poetry competition.

When I reached tenth grade, I got very upset that my school life was over. I thought to myself —since I haven't participated in any of the 'School Week' events so far, this time I will participate in everything. I made up my mind about being in the drama competition as well. A friend brought me a play called 'A Handful of Dust' by Biren Hazarika [sic]. Due to time constraints, the rehearsals were done hurriedly. Our teacher helped us a little with that. We placed third as a team and I won the third prize for Best Actress. A few days later, I participated and secured a position in an one-act play competition held in Chatia.

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Perhaps it was at Chatia Girls High School that the seeds of my acting career were planted unknowingly. Many years later, in 1989, I went to the Silver Jubilee celebration of Chatia Girls High School. Participating in that celebration felt like I was being taken back to my childhood. I was made to sit with my teachers. I couldn't relax while sitting with them, because it felt as if I was still their student. I was so happy that I went for one day but stretched the trip to three days.

Grandma's 'Ma’am' 
My grandmother died when I was in tenth grade. I was always called 'Ma'am' by my grandmother since I was very young. I used to get annoyed at her for doing that. However, my mother explained to me why my grandmother called me 'Ma'am'. It was because I had a very fair complexion. I also had reddish hair. As I grew older, my red hair turned black. Now, whenever I come across the word ‘ma’am’ somewhere, it reminds me of her. 

Bishwanath College
After finishing my schooling, I got enrolled in Bishwanath College. First I was in the hostel. Never having left my parents, I was quite upset at first. 

Eventually everything got better. I used to commute from home to college. There was a college bus plying between Chatia to the college. We used to board the bus near the Garden. 

Thereafter, I participated on behalf of the college, in the 'All Assam Surya Bora Memorial One Act Drama Competition' held at Bishwanath Chariali. This time too, I was awarded. The reason I mention winning awards in drama is because it might have possibly inspired my acting career later.

When I first entered college, I was too scared of ragging. Later I learned that the seniors of the college had planned to rag me. In the meantime, they got to know that I was doing plays in Chatia. They questioned me for about 45 minutes. I felt like I should leave there right now, and never come back to study. However, after the ragging ended, the senior girls told me— 'This is how we got to know you, we had fun, don't hate us anymore, greet us whenever we meet’. At that moment, I liked them so much that it made me forget everything.

I did my pre-university at Bishwanath College. I will never forget the love and affection I received from my college friends and seniors during those two years. Once they selected me to be the secretary of the Girls Common Room in the college elections. I was not aware of what was going on. They were the ones who did everything. I won by a landslide. At another college event I had to do a play with our teachers. I was very scared at first. But it became easier as they taught and explained everything. 

At Bishwanath Chariali
My father bought a plot of land in Bishwanath Chariali a long time ago. Later he built a house there. It was very sad to leave the tea garden and go to our own house. It took time to grow on me. I missed the Garden time and again. But slowly everything started feeling familiar and homely. Bishwanath Chariali became my home eventually. 

Handique College
After completing PU [Pre-university], I came to do my BA at Guwahati’s Handique College. I was in the New Hostel. Being introduced to other girls from different parts of Assam in that atmosphere felt so good. 

I was not a victim of ragging in this college. As I gradually became closer to my hostel-mates, many local girls too became good friends. During my two years of education there, I only contributed once to a college event. We did a play by Dr. Dipali Dutta from the hostel.

I keep remembering…
When I am left alone and on my own, I reminisce about the days of my childhood over and over again. Pratapgarh Tea Estate School, Chatia Girls High School, Bishwanath College and Guwahati’s Handique College. Those school and college friends! Now do I know anything about their whereabouts? Sometimes when you meet someone, can you explain the way you’re overwhelmed with joy? Most of those friends have now become memories.

I have never forgotten the seven years at Chatia Girls High School. It is an unforgettable chapter in my life. Even though walking a long distance from the Garden to the school and back to home after the classes was hard work, I still found joy in it. In fact, it seemed to be a call for my future life. Upon entering the film world, I came to this realisation all over again.

Now, it has been quite a few years of having predominantly worked in the film world. I still can't forget those golden days of my childhood.

First Film: Upapath 
While studying at Handique College, productions were underway to make a new film from Bishwanath Chariali. The film was called 'Upapath'. The film's producer Pramod Barua was looking for a new girl to play the heroine. I was at home then because of the college holidays. Pinku, Pramod Barua's brother-in-law, was a friend of my brother. Pinku told Barua about me. Pramod Barua's wife Runu Baideo [elder sister] also asked me to do the film. 

I didn't pay that much attention when my brother told me about the film. Later, when it was almost certain that I would work in that film, I got very scared. Because I knew nothing about films except for watching them. I had no idea I could act in them.

My parents said: If you want to do it, you can, still you should consult your maternal and paternal uncles once. They didn't mind me acting. Pramod Baroua's wife Runu is our relative. That's why I call him Bhindeo [brother-in-law]. They gave me a lot of courage when they saw that I was afraid to act. Bubuldai (Asim Bothra) of Bishwanath Chariali also encouraged me a lot in this regard.

Bijuda
The film Upapath also starred the popular Assamese actor, Biju Phukan. I was afraid and apprehensive to act with him. But Bijuda made everything easier. Gradually, my fears and apprehensions disappeared.

From doing Upapath together, we developed a deep familial bond, first with Bijuda, and eventually with his family. However, remembering an incident that happened during the making of this film makes me laugh. As I mentioned earlier, I was very stubborn back then. While the shooting was going on, someone told that Bijuda did not have a good opinion about the girls in Biswanath Chariali. Regarding this, I had an argument with him while we were on the shoot. Bijuda, however, was entertained by my temper and put on the usual lively smile I always saw on his face. Since then, Bijuda has become such a dear person, always sincerely supporting me at many critical junctures of my life. 

The first director
The director of the first film I acted in was Hemantada (Hemanta Dutta). He explained very well what I had to do. One day I was scolded for not understanding something. There would be no shots, he said. Later, however, he continued with the shooting. 

I met Hemantada long before this. But then I didn't know him. When I was studying in Handique College, I was coming home by bus once during the Puja holidays. There was an acquaintance next to me. In that same bus, Hemant Dutta and Dulal Roy were on their way to North Lakhimpur. I didn't know them then. Later, my acquaintance told me that Hemantada had asked if I would act in films. I couldn't think of acting in films then. Later, under his direction I would go on to do my first film 'Upapath'. 

After the first phase of shooting of 'Upapath', I received invitations to act in films like 'Moromi' and 'Banjui'. 

Majidka
Majidka (Abdul Majid) also played a character in 'Upapath' One day in the middle of the shooting, he came to our house. He was then producing his new film 'Banjui'. Majidka said that he played a character in that film. I was very happy. Because I loved watching Majidka's 'Chameli Memsab'. The film was shot in a tea garden. As I mentioned earlier, I have a soft spot for tea gardens. Maybe that's why I liked Chameli even more. 'Banjui' was shot in Tinsukia. I first met Daraka (Dara Ahmed) in that film. He was then the chief assistant director of Majidka. He worked for the first time in that film. Now, the art director in many Assamese films is Phatik Barua. Though Phatikda started as a light designer. 

It's my bad, I have never been fortunate enough to watch the film Banjui. Even though I had to play a complex character in the film.. Later I acted in Majidka's film Ponakan. 

Upside down, the first meeting
I often laugh when the topic of my first meeting with Pranjalda (Pranjal Saikia) comes up. 'Upapath' is probably Pranjalda’s second film. I was first introduced to Pranjalda while he was doing Sirsasana. I saw a makeup man sitting in the room and upon entering, in a corner I saw Pranjalda for the first time. I couldn't figure out who he was. Because Pranjalda was doing asana with his head upside down. I recognized him when the makeupman Babul Dai (Babul Das) told me. And in that way, in our first meeting, I encountered him upside down. 

I first met Babulda and Yogenda (Yogen Das) in the film 'Uppath'

I met actor-director-playwright Hiren Chowdhury during my first film 'Upapath'. Late Mr. Chowdhury approached me for the film 'Marami' directed by the late Dwijendra Narayan and produced by Suprabha Devi.

Dwibanda
One day Dwibanda (Dwiban Barua), his wife Anju Barua and producer Dharma Saikia came to our house. I was being sought for the new film 'Mon aru Morom’.' His film 'Maram' was a superhit then. After talking about the film, I asked who is the hero of the film? Dwibanda said— Why? Do you have any objections regarding the hero? I said—  I am just asking. Dwibanda didn't say anything.

The shooting started. After a few days of shooting, when Dwibanda also played a character, I realised he was the hero.

Later, I also acted in his film 'Ajala Kakai'. Dwibanda would be both cheerful and angry during shooting. Because I always remained careful, I was never reprimanded. 

'Meghmukti' in Calcutta
This was followed by an invitation to act in the Assamese film 'Meghmukti' produced in Calcutta. Bijuda talked to people about me. Thereafter, Girish Chowdhury contacted me and arranged everything. We all went to Calcutta together for the shooting of 'Meghmukti'. My mother went with me. We all lived together in a house in Baliganj.

I had been in the film industry for only about a year when 'Meghmukti' was released. I didn't understand many things about the film industry. Therefore, it was obvious to be a little uncomfortable at first in a completely strange environment in Calcutta. As the shoot progressed, it was a pleasure to work in harmony with everyone. The director of the film, Binu Bardhan, was a very humble man. I never saw the man get angry. He explained everything with love. However, he did know Assamese.

The film 'Meghmukti' was also made in Oriya. Artists from Orissa came to work on that film. We had some brief conversation. It was then that I met Jyotsna, an announcer on Delhi Doordarshan. Even though she was older than me, we became good friends.

During the shooting of Meghmukti in Kolkata, I met Amulyada (Amulya Kakati), Prakashda (Prakash Barman), Bina Baideo (Bina Das Manna), Dineshda (Dinesh Das) and more. We had a whole lot of fun after the shoot. I will never forget the love and support that Girish Chowdhury, Anil Chowdhury, Makhan Dewan, Baruna Chowdhury, Hiluda and all their families gave us at that time.

Once I got into an argument with Amulyada and Prakashda. Later, everyone teased and laughed at me. My relationship with Amulyada from the days of Meghmukti still endures today. Amulyada is one of my true well-wishers. I know for a fact that whenever he hears some good news from me, he is genuinely happy for me. 

Until the shooting of 'Meghmukti', I saw Dineshda only as a villain in films. I still laugh when I remember how I didn’t go to meet Dineshda simply because I was scared of him. I was so scared that, when someone tried to introduce me, at first I said no. However, after we talked, his humour dispelled my fears and I had come to terms with the fact that he was a villain only on screen. 

Niponda (Nipon Goswami)
When I went to Calcutta for the shooting of 'Meghmukti', I first met Niponda at his camp.

"We were in the lower primary school when we watched the film 'Dr. Bezbarua'. We liked the film so much that we wanted to watch it again. We rewatched it with our parents. We absolutely loved Niponda. 

At first, I was just as scared of Niponda. A film was being shot on the campus of an engineering college. Niponda and I acted in the film. Every time I forgot a dialogue, Niponda had to repeat his dialogue. He got angry. He scolded me harshly in front of many people. I was ashamed and cried a lot that day.

Niponda is very serious about his work. We also remain serious when we are shooting with him. During our first shoot, he looked at me and mumbled something, making me think he was asking me a question. I realised he was just saying his own dialogue. Niponda has a keen sense of time. He may come two minutes earlier than he says he will, but is never late. 

Over time, our relationship with Niponda grew into a deep, familial bond. I acted in several films with him. It is worth mentioning that Niponda has been cast as my romantic hero, my father and even as my grandfather. 

Part I is over
From Aatmajib

Notes: 
The play called 'A Handful of Dust' is written by Jogesh Das, not Biren Hazarika. 

Translated and Reproduced from the original article ‘Mur Jibon: Mur Abhinay Jibon’ by Mridula Baruah published in the Aatmajibani (Autobiography) section of Roopkar magazine, April 2025.

The images apperead are from the original article.