GUWAHATI: The BJP-led Assam government has decided to make a Hindi movie based on the life and bravery of Bir Lachit Barphukan, the unsung hero of the Battle of Saraighat, who crushed the Mughal Army of Aurangzeb near Guwahati on the banks of the Brahmaputra.
Announcing this in a social media live, CM Sarma said he spoke a few days ago with blockbuster ‘Dhurandhar’ series director Aditya Dhar over the telephone on the topic. “Dhar informed me that he will meet me in August and discuss making a film on the life and valour of Bir Lachit”, CM Sarma said.
CM Sarma said, “Assam Budget 2026 endeavours to create a world-class cinematic epic on the extraordinary life of Bir Lachit Barphukan, a story told on the scale it truly deserves.” He also informed that talks are underway with several leading Bollywood directors. The CM said that the government is keen to make the film world-class to do justice to Bir Lachit’s valour and personality.
Bir Lachit Barphukan was the Ahom General who fought the large Mughal Army of Aurangzeb in the Battle of Saraighat in 1671. The Ahom Army was smaller, and Bir Lachit realised it would be difficult to defeat them on the plains. So he constructed a large dam along the banks of the river Brahmaputra to prevent the Mughal army from entering Guwahati. Forced to take the river route, the Mughal Army faced the Ahom Army in a naval war. Despite being afflicted with a deadly illness, Bir Lachit led the Ahom Army and crushed the Aurangzeb army within a few days. The Mughals were badly defeated and forced to retreat to their base in Dhaka. The Mughals never tried to invade Assam after the loss in the Battle of Saraighat. But Bir Lachit was never celebrated in India’s history, nor were the mighty Ahoms, who defeated the Mughals 17 times in war.
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma further stated that the Assam Budget 2026 has laid out a vision for a dedicated OTT platform for Assamese cinema, folk music, documentaries, literature and more.
