Kolahal

Kiran depends on her son Moti, who brings her paddy taken from the sacks on passing trucks. Her husband has gone away to look for work, and in the house without men a neighbouring watchman and an older man keep hovering near her. One day Moti is crushed to death beneath the sacks of paddy, and Kiran is devastated.

Some time later word comes that her husband Binod has taken up with another woman. At this low point Badal, a cleaner on the trucks, offers to help her and says he wants to marry her. The film turns on the decision Kiran makes at this unsteady moment in her life, and on how the life she left behind weighs on that choice.

Saikia produced, directed and wrote the story, screenplay and dialogue. Arun Guha Thakurta was chief assistant director, Mukul Barua composed the music, Kamal Nayak handled cinematography and Nikunja Bhattacharya the editing. Sound was recorded by Piyush Kanti Roy and Satish Chauhan, art direction was by Phatik Barua and Nuruddin Ahmed, and the costumes were by Sangeeta Saikia. The cast included Runu Devi Thakur, Arun Nath and Bibhu Ranjan Choudhury.

The film received the National Film Award (Rajat Kamal) for Best Feature Film in Assamese at the 36th National Film Awards, recognised for its bold treatment of a suffering woman caught between social norms and the will to live. As director and producer, Saikia received cash prizes of 10,000 and 20,000 rupees respectively along with the award. Kolahal was selected for the Indian Panorama and for the festivals of Sydney, Munich, Moscow, Montreal and Toronto.