Guwahati, May 31: In a compelling blend of law enforcement and storytelling, Guwahati Police Commissioner Dr. Partha Sarathi Mahanta, has stepped behind the camera to direct a powerful short film that is now drawing international attention.
Mahanta’s short film Ansuni Chinkhe (Unheard Whispers) received an enthusiastic response during its online screening at the Marché du Film, the business counterpart of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. The film, written and directed by Mahanta, explores the deeply entrenched gender inequalities in Indian society.
Narrated by National Film Award-winning actor Seema Biswas, the film is structured as a poetic monologue that traces a woman’s journey through the social hierarchies and constraints imposed from birth to adulthood. It begins with the spectre of female foeticide. It moves through issues like child marriage, loss of agency, and identity erasure in marriage, before culminating in a reclaiming of feminine power.
> “The woman in the story reclaims her identity as Shakti—the divine embodiment of feminine power—and declares that silence is no longer an option,” said DDrMahanta. “This film is a tribute to the countless women whose voices have been stifled for generations. Through Ansuni Chinkhe, we hope to spark conversations and inspire change.”
Dr Mahanta, who also heads Assam Police’s Special Task Force, made time for the film alongside his official duties, reflecting his belief in cinema as a medium for social transformation. The film, he says, is an effort to amplify “unheard whispers” that need to rise into a roar.
Produced by Mina Mahanta and Indrani Baruah, both strong advocates of socially conscious cinema, the film stands out for its poetic aesthetics and bold message.
At a time when regional Indian cinema is gaining global prominence, Ansuni Chinkhe illustrates how storytelling rooted in local realities can resonate universally.
