Roopkar Revival: The Iconic Assamese Magazine Set to Make a Comeback!
Roopkar was not merely a magazine; it was a fundamental pillar of Art and Literature.
GUWAHATI ( By Prantik Deka ) Roopkar, one of the earliest Assamese-language, tabloid-sized monthly magazines devoted to Assamese cinema, theatre, and culture, is poised to make a comeback.
Founded in 1975 by the late Pabitra Kumar Deka, an eminent journalist and humorist, the magazine remained an important part of Assam’s cultural landscape until the early 1990s.
During its initial run, Roopkar was the most popular entertainment magazine in Northeast India. The advisors of the magazine were legendary singer-composer Dr Bhupen Hazarika and esteemed writer Nirode Chaudhury.
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In 1975, the magazine also introduced Assam’s first popular film awards, the Roopkar Awards, further cementing its influence in the regional film industry.
Apart from numerous accomplished writers, the Roopkar magazine also featured contributions from a number of emerging writers.
Roopkar magazine, beyond its role as a publication, significantly influenced a generation of readers by its extensive coverage of Assam’s art and culture, literary articles, stories and essays, while also serving as an educational resource for numerous aspiring authors in the field of cultural journalism. Roopkar was not merely a magazine; it was a fundamental pillar of Art and Literature.
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In April 2025, Roopkar will be republished as an Annual Special issue to mark the publication’s 50th anniversary. Making a resurgence, the magazine aims to reclaim its significance in the digital era. This revival is being undertaken by Pallabi Borah on behalf of Roopkar Prakashan, with filmmaker and author Prodyut Kumar Deka, son of late Pabitra Kumar Deka, as the editor.
The revival of Roopkar aims to commemorate its glorious past while simultaneously chronicling and promoting Assamese cinema, theatre, culture, and literature for a contemporary audience.
