Singer Papon represents Assam at India Pavillion in Cannes

Singer and composer Papon attended the prestigious Cannes Film Festival as the cultural ambassador of Assam. The artist also attended the event in the capacity of a producer of two films, The Land of the Sacred Beats and The Mystical Brahmaputra: A Musical Story, both of which are yet to be released.

The teasers of the films were screened at the India Pavilion at the Marché du Film to celebrate cinema rooted in the Northeastern state.

The musician-turned-producer also took part in a panel discussion titled 'The Gateway to the Northeast', which touched upon the film policy, scenic locales, cultural heritage and hospitality of Assam.

In the panel, the artiste was joined by Simanta Sekhar, chairperson of Assam State Film Finance and Development Corporation' Loya Madhuri, the Assam government's secretary of cultural affairs; Monidipa Borkotoki, managing director of Assam State Film Finance and Development Corporation; and director Biswajeet Bora, known for his film Boomba Ride.

As a producer, Papon has been working on The Land of the Sacred Beats and The Mystical Brahmaputra: A Musical Story for four years.

The former is premised on the 550-year-old tradition of classical music propounded by Vaishnava saint Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev and the latter is a tribute to the co-existence of the music, art and culture of the tribes and communities that reside on the banks of the Brahmaputra river. Directed by Parasher Baruah, the upcoming films capture the diversity of music, art, craft, livelihood and stories of Assam.

“I am truly honoured to have represented my country and my home state Assam at Cannes 2022,” said Papon. “It felt like a celebration of a culture that has made such a significant contribution to art.”

For the singer, witnessing great films and exchanging energy with international artistes were highlights. “I'm happy that the teasers of The Land of the Sacred Beats and The Mystical Brahmaputra: A Musical Story received love on a global platform. I share this honour with the people of India,” he added.