'Aakuti' (Longing), an Assamese feature film on the emotional journey of an eight-year-old girl haunted by her mother's loss, has been chosen at the New York Indian Film Festival
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GUWAHATI — 'Aakuti' (Longing), an Assamese feature film on the emotional journey of an eight-year-old girl haunted by her mother's loss, has been chosen at the New York Indian Film Festival, where the movie will have its 'World Premiere', the filmmaker said on Sunday.
The film marks the directorial debut feature of Snigdha P Roy, and it was also selected for 'Film Bazaar Recommends' section at Waves Film Bazaar 2025.
Written, directed and edited by Roy, 'Aakuti' is part of the official selection of the New York Indian Film Festival 2026 (NYIFF), and it will be screened on May 30.
Commenting on the development, Roy said, "Being selected by the New York Indian Film Festival and nominated alongside some remarkable films is an honour for all of us. It feels like a meaningful acknowledgement of the passion and resilience that went into making the film possible."
'Aakuti' was not an easy film to make, and filmed on a modest budget, it was brought to life by a small team bound by conviction rather than resources, she added.
The director co-produced the film with Tanuja P Roy under the banner of PKR Films. The film's cinematography was done by Chida Bora, sound design by Debajit Gayan and background score by Ashutosh Sohoni.
Reflecting on the experience and journey of making 'Aakuti', producer Tanuja said, "It is the debut feature from PKR Films, and its journey from inception to the international stage at the NYIFF is a significant milestone for our team."
The film is built on a foundation of minimalistic storytelling and raw human connection, she added.
The title role of the film, the child's character, has been portrayed by Kavisha Mahanta. The film also features Nilim Chetia, Anisha Hazarika, Arun Hazarikа and Ananya Hazarika in lead roles.
The 1-hour 34-minute film revolves around Lakhi, who lost her mother when she was infant and now constantly longs for her.
To cope with the void, Lakhi fills pages with drawings, trying to imagine her mother's face, but is left frustrated and heartbroken.
Her father, Bishnu, loves her deeply, but Lakhi remains withdrawn, caught in a web of inner turmoil and self-doubt. He tries his best to understand her, to offer comfort, but finds himself falling short.
Bishnu leans on a close friendship with a woman, who guides him through his difficulties. They also hope for a life together, but are unable to because of the complexities of their situation. And Lakhi remains unaware of this relationship.
'Aakuti' traces the emotional journey of a child and the quiet, and the tender bond between a father and daughter as they try to sail through life.