Ranjib Mazumdar
Kung Fu And Hustle
Filmmaker Kenny Basumatary talks about the fight to finish Local Kung Fu 2, the state of Assamese cinema and how being an actor-director is always an advantage
Films from Assam don’t really generate a conversation in national media other than the blink and miss appearances of Jahnu Barua’s continuous innings at the National Awards. But a little film, made on a paltry sum of Rs 1 lakh brought a welcome change in 2013. Kenny Basumatary’s Local Kung Fu pocketed extensive coverage not only because it managed to be a sound example of the indie wave, but also because it was a film that was exceedingly different from any other Assamese film. A slapdash mix of action, comedy, and romance, Local Kung Fu was a surprise hit in Assam, making Basumatary’s dream of being a legitimate filmmaker a tangible truth.