Not many have the privilege of striding three worlds at the same time–that of black and white cinema, to ‘commercial’ colour cinema, to acting in commercials, as they became viable for Oxomiya television. Assam actor Nipon Goswami, who passed away this morning, at age 80, did.

In the kitty that he left behind for moviegoers, is a repertoire of a few dozen films, in Oxomiya and Hindi, the second being a rare phenomenon in his time. And yes even a masala commercial, such was his calibre. In other words, not only was his acting good, he was also a good commercial proposition for producers and directors, and thus a difficult act to beat. Add to that Nipon Goswami’s success in Oxom’s travelling Bhramyaman theatre (with major houses such as Abahan, Kohinoor, Hengul and Shakuntala) and it gives him a position that is in every possible way enviable.

Nipon Goswami–Niponda to many, but as greats go, a name-surname combination that makes a brand–whose film career started with Piyoli Phukan in 1957 was a versatile artiste, covering the entire spectrum of work available in his time. It included roles in films about freedom fighters (Piyoli Phukan), tear-jerkers Mukuta (1970), films that were pivoted on their villains more than their heroes (Dr Bezbarua, 1970), Bhabendranath Saikia’s heart-rending and fierecely real Sandhyaraag (1977), Jahnu Barua’s classic Aparupa (1982), Bhupen Hazarika’s remake of Siraj in 1988, the original film being one that was believed to have held the peace in Oxom during the early years of Independence and Partition, heart-warming family stories Aajoli Nobou and Kokadeuta, Nati aru Haati (1980, 1983) and teeny-bopper romantics such as Hiya Diya Niya (2000). For good effect, Nipon Goswami has left, as if by design, also left a bit of ‘wonder how its turned out’ suspense as well for Oxom’s moviegoers: his latest film Lankakanda releases tomorrow.

Nipon Goswami travelled an entire creative age in Oxom, right from the time when artistes would pass away with a small gathering of people at cremation grounds, a small procession of people taking them there, with small write-ups in newspapers commemorating their work, to the time when Oxom learnt to give its artistes befitting farewells. Nipon Goswami is being given a state funeral.

Nipon Goswami was born in Tezpur in central Oxom, and passed away in Guwahati this morning. He trained at the Pune Film Institute with Mumbai film personalities such as Subhash Ghai, Navin Nischol and Shatrughan Sinha.

 (Photo courtesy  UB Photos)