As the River Flows, the debut feature film of Mumbai-based Assamese filmmaker Bidyut Kotoky, will bring on big screen for the first time the rich culture and lifestyle of Majuli’s famous Vaishnavite centres.

"I play a journalist, who goes on in the search of a lost friend in the movie. It is loosely inspired by the death of activist Sanjay Ghosh, who went missing. His body was never found and there was no official statement about how he died," Suri said.

Produced by the National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC), the bilingual film will have an Assamese version — Ekhon Nedekha Nodir Xipaare.

The film, also starring veteran actor Victor Banerjee (in the role of a Gandhian), Raj Zutshi, Nakul Vaid, Naved Aslam and newcomer Bidita Bag, is in the post-production stage and is likely to be completed by October.

The story is about Abhijit Shandilya (Suri), who is caught in a multi-layered world of intriguing happenings in the world’s largest inhabited river island Majuli. The music has been composed by Zubin Garg of "Ya Ali" fame, who also plays a cameo.

"We just shot in Assam for a month. Though the film is inspired by a true incident it is not only about that incident. It is a suspense thriller," Suri said.

Apart from As the River Flows, his Sikander too was released recently.

The film, again a suspense-thriller, deals with a young boy growing up in the shadow of violence. Directed by Piyush Jha and shot in the backdrop of Kashmir, the film sees Suri playing the role of a militant-turned-politician but the actor is quick to point out that the character is not based on any real person.

"I have never liked politicians but now I am playing one. My character in the movie tries to bring peace in the region but the situation is complex and the area is hostile. The character is not negative but it has its own ambiguity," the 36-year-old actor said.

Sikander gave Suri the chance to return to his native place after a gap of more than 18 years. The actor, who lost his father due to militancy, said he felt relieved to confront his past by visiting the place.

"I kept delaying it, somewhere not willing to confront the past and delaying the catharsis that was waiting to happen. It all came back, the memories were so raw. It looked liked it just happened yesterday," he said.

"But it was good that I went back and confronted my past," he added. — PTI