Assamese cinema has received national recognition with Juiphool winning the Rajat Kamal for Best Assamese Film at the 72nd National Film Awards. The film, written, directed and produced by Assamese filmmaker Jadumoni Dutta, was selected for the award under the Best Feature Film category for Assamese language. The official National Film Awards list confirms Juiphool as the Best Assamese Film and names Jadumoni Dutta as its producer and director. The award carries the Rajat Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 2 lakh for the awardee.
The 72nd National Film Awards recognise achievements in Indian cinema for the year 2024. The winners were announced on 18 July 2026, while the awards were presented by the President of India at Ekta Nagar, formerly Kevadia, in Gujarat, on 22 September 2026. The ceremony marked an important occasion for Indian cinema, bringing national attention to films made in different Indian languages and regions.
Juiphool and its Story
Juiphool, which carries the English title Orange and Purple, is a 2024 Assamese feature film with a running time of approximately 100 minutes. The film tells the story of two women living in an area affected by conflict along the Assam-Nagaland border.
The narrative centres on Lakhimi, a pregnant Assamese widow, and Rengma, a Naga woman who has experienced repeated miscarriages. Despite coming from different communities and living amid an atmosphere of fear and tension, the two women develop a close and secret friendship.
The story is set in Naragaon, where the continuing conflict has changed the everyday life of the villagers. The film portrays a community where people remain alert at night and rest during the day because of the prevailing insecurity. Instead of presenting the border conflict only through large political events, Juiphool focuses on its effect on ordinary people, relationships and families.
As Lakhimi and Rengma's friendship develops, their association attracts suspicion within the village. This creates another layer of tension in the story and places their personal relationship against the wider atmosphere of conflict.
The film also incorporates the Assamese folk narrative Tula Aru Teja. The traditional tale runs alongside the central story through the voices of Gita and her mother, connecting the experiences of the characters with a broader cultural memory of violence and human suffering.
Themes of Juiphool
At its core, Juiphool explores motherhood, friendship, compassion, conflict and human relationships. The story shows how prolonged violence can affect people far beyond the immediate conflict and how personal bonds can cross social and community boundaries.
The film's setting along the Assam-Nagaland border gives the story a strong connection with the social realities of Northeast India. Its focus on two mothers allows the film to examine conflict through personal experiences rather than relying only on political or military perspectives.
The title Juiphool also has a symbolic dimension. The film's director has explained that the title is connected with the idea of a flower of fire, while the colours orange and purple represent the two central women in the story. This symbolism adds another layer to the film's portrayal of pain, resilience and human connection.
Director and Producer Jadumoni Dutta
Jadumoni Dutta is the filmmaker behind Juiphool. He serves as the film's director and producer, with the official 72nd National Film Awards record listing him in both roles.
The film's screenplay was written by Nizara Rajkumari. Jiten Boro handled cinematography and Sibajit Sharma was the editor. The principal cast includes Shibrani Kalita, Tridip Gogoi and Rituparna Phukan, with other performers also contributing to the film.
The film's development was influenced by real-life observations of the social impact of border tensions. Dutta has spoken about his interest in stories from the Assam-Nagaland border and the way conflict affects communities that continue to share social and cultural connections despite periods of tension.
Juiphool at the 55th International Film Festival of India
Before receiving the National Film Award, Juiphool had already gained attention through its selection for the Indian Panorama section of the 55th International Film Festival of India in Goa in 2024.
The official IFFI film catalogue lists Juiphool as a 2024 Assamese film directed by Jadumoni Dutta, with Jadumoni Dutta, Rita Dutta and Nandini Sharma Dutta credited as producers. The catalogue also identifies Jiten Boro as cinematographer, Sibajit Sharma as editor and Nizara Rajkumari as screenplay writer.
Juiphool was also included among the films shortlisted for the ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal at IFFI 2024. The selection placed the Assamese film alongside entries from India and other countries that explored themes connected with humanity, peace and social understanding.
National Recognition for Assamese Cinema
The Rajat Kamal awarded to Juiphool represents an important national recognition for Assamese-language cinema. The Best Assamese Film category is part of the National Film Awards' recognition of feature films made in the languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
The official 72nd National Film Awards list records Juiphool under Best Assamese Film, with Jadumoni Dutta credited as producer and director.
The recognition also demonstrates how stories rooted in Northeast India's social and cultural environment can reach a national audience through Indian cinema. Juiphool does this through a story that combines regional identity, traditional storytelling and the personal consequences of conflict.
Assam's Other Recognition at the 72nd National Film Awards
Assam also featured in the 72nd National Film Awards through the documentary Life in Loom. The film explores the lives and livelihoods of traditional weavers across seven Indian states, including Assam.
Edmon Ranson received the award for Best Cinematography for Life in Loom. The documentary was presented in multiple languages and focused on traditional weaving communities and their cultural and economic significance. This gave Assam another connection to the national awards through the documentation of India's textile heritage.
Why Juiphool Is Important for Assam Current Affairs
For Assam Current Affairs and General Knowledge, Juiphool is an important film-related development because it connects Assamese cinema with one of India's major national cultural awards.
The key facts are straightforward: Juiphool is an Assamese feature film; Jadumoni Dutta is its director and producer; it won the Rajat Kamal for Best Assamese Film at the 72nd National Film Awards; and its story focuses on two mothers living against the backdrop of conflict along the Assam-Nagaland border.
The film was also part of the Indian Panorama section of the 55th IFFI in Goa in 2024. These details make Juiphool relevant for students preparing for APSC, Assam government examinations and other competitive examinations where Assam-related current affairs and culture may be included.
Quick GK Points on Juiphool
Film: Juiphool
English title: Orange and Purple
Language: Assamese
Year: 2024
Award: Rajat Kamal
Award Category: Best Assamese Film
National Event: 72nd National Film Awards
Director: Jadumoni Dutta
Producer: Jadumoni Dutta
Screenplay: Nizara Rajkumari
Cinematography: Jiten Boro
Editor: Sibajit Sharma
Main Cast: Shibrani Kalita, Tridip Gogoi and Rituparna Phukan
Main Setting: Assam-Nagaland border region
Central Characters: Lakhimi and Rengma
Major Themes: Motherhood, conflict, friendship, humanity and coexistence
IFFI Recognition: Selected for Indian Panorama at the 55th International Film Festival of India
Conclusion
Juiphool's Rajat Kamal at the 72nd National Film Awards has brought another significant national honour to Assamese cinema. Directed and produced by Jadumoni Dutta, the film combines a story rooted in the Assam-Nagaland border region with themes of motherhood, friendship and human resilience.
Its journey from the Indian Panorama selection at IFFI 2024 to the Best Assamese Film award at the 72nd National Film Awards highlights the growing national visibility of Assamese storytelling. For Assam, Juiphool is not only a notable cinema achievement but also an important current-affairs topic connected with the state's culture, film industry and representation at the national level.
