 |
| A still from 15 Park Avenue, a film which also deals with schizophrenia |
Guwahati, April 3 : A London-based Assamese doctor is taking a film on schizophrenia to all corners of Assam to raise awareness about mental illness, a common scourge in the militancy and violence-ravaged region.
Ranen Sarma, 50, produced the multi-starrer Assamese film titled Ahir Bhairav (Songs of the Dawn) based on decades of experience.
After winning accolades from various platforms, the film will now be screened for free in small villages and towns across the region.
“The film, entirely shot in the UK, shows a husband’s struggle with his wife and daughter who are suffering from schizophrenia. It is about an Indian family using Indian methods to deal with the impact of mental ill health while living in London. Through the film, we are trying to show how a serious mental disease is wrongly treated or kept a secret even by many educated Indians. The film will send a message about the correct diagnosis and treatment of mental diseases. I am confident about creating effective public awareness on the subject by screening the film in various places,” Sarma told reporters today.
Beginning tomorrow, the film will be screened at Puthimari in Darrang district, Biswanath Chariali in Sonitpur, Jamuguri and Puranigudam in Nagaon, Rangia, Barpeta town, Sonapur and Jalukbari in Kamrup metro district.
The first phase of the screenings will end on April 12 and the next phase will begin after Rongali Bihu.
Sarma, who was born and brought up in Guwahati, has collaborated with local physicians to organise mental health screening camps. Psychiatrists at the camps will try to identify the mental illness in patients and suggest medication and methods for recovery.
“The number of people suffering from various mental diseases in the Northeast is fast increasing because of violence, ethnic conflicts and underdevelopment. But unfortunately, most people remain unaware about their sickness, which leads to serious mental and emotional imbalances. Detection of mental sickness at an early stage is very important,” Sarma said.
P. Choudhury, the head of the department of psychiatry at Assam Medical College and Hospital, Dibrugarh, lauded Sarma for his effort and said he would personally extend support for the project.