Five members of an all-girls band relive the moments when they had challenged society to follow their passion. In 1979, a group of young women, Anjali Mahanta, Nazma Ahmed, Sewali Lekharu, Kabita Nath and Arati Mahanta form a music band called ‘Sur Samoloya’ in Assam, India. It was a time when the patriarchal society of the day looked down on women who performed on stage. Even their parents were not always supportive of their aspirations. But, these women stood their ground, driven by their passion for music to fight against the odds. Looking back at those times, these women recall the struggles they have undergone and the challenges they have faced.
‘Breaking the silence’ is a documentary short by director Parthajit Baruah. Parthajit revisits an all-girl band from the early 1980s who created a sensation on the cultural scene of the time. He follows each member of the band, through their daily routines to learn how music plays a central role in their lives even today. They share anecdotal experiences of the days when an all-girls band was more of a novelty and society was unprepared for such a concept. One of them recalls the multiple marriage proposals she had got back in college and how each one of them would withdraw their proposals when she had told them that she would continue her pursuit of music. One of them even has religious leaders warning her parents about the consequences of pursuing what was considered blasphemous in their religion.
‘Breaking the silence’ is a social commentary on the oppression of women in an orthodox society. When certain instruments were considered bastions of male musicians, the women challenged the status quo with their passion to change public perception. Today, they look back with pride at their achievements that paved the way for more women to break free from their shackles and follow their passion.
