The Assamese short film Martya has been selected for the Women’s Cinema Collective Competition at the Bengaluru International Short Film Festival 2026.

• The selection is significant for Assamese independent cinema, as the Bengaluru International Short Film Festival is recognised as India’s only Oscar-qualifying short film festival.

About Martya

• Martya is a 20-minute Assamese short film directed by Pragya Parmita and co-directed by Uday Patar.
• Shot in and around Guwahati, the film explores human relationships, expectations, hope and the gap between aspirations and reality.
• The film has a personal dimension for director Pragya Parmita, who dedicated it to the memory of her late father, Mani Medhi.
• The film features veteran Assamese actors Bina Baruwati and Dulal Roy, connecting contemporary independent filmmaking with Assam’s established cinematic tradition.
• The film’s creative team includes Sarpil Nandan Deka as cinematographer, Dheeraj Majumdar as editor, National Award-winning sound designer Debajit Gayan, and Dr. Sourav Mahanta as composer of the background score.

Growing Festival Journey

Before its selection at the Bengaluru International Short Film Festival, Martya had travelled through several important film platforms, including:

• The 48th Moscow International Film Festival.
• The 18th Jaipur International Film Festival.
• The 9th New Delhi Film Festival.
• The 9th South Asian Short Film Festival in Kolkata.
• The Bengaluru International Short Film Festival.

Its participation across Indian and international festivals has increased the visibility of contemporary Assamese storytelling beyond the region.

Exam Hook: Prelims Question

Q. Consider the following statements regarding Martya:

1. It is an Assamese short film.
2. It was selected for the Women’s Cinema Collective Competition at the Bengaluru International Short Film Festival 2026.
3. The Bengaluru International Short Film Festival is recognised as an Oscar-qualifying short film festival.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Answer: 1, 2 and 3.

One-Line Wrap

Martya represents the growing national and international visibility of Assamese independent cinema and the region’s contemporary cultural storytelling.