Baghjan Reels

‘Baghjan Reels’ is a documentary on the aftermath of India’s biggest and longest oil well fire that happened in Baghjan village, in the territorial state of Assam. It was a part of Oil India Limited’s Baghjan oil field. The gas leak started on May 27th, 2020. Subsequently, it caught fire on 9th June, 2020 which was finally “killed” on November 15th, 2020. This resulted in three deaths and large-scale environmental damage. It happened at a time when the rest of the world was reeling under the 1st wave of covid pandemic. The 34 min film attempts to highlight the circumstances of the affected Moran people, the original
inhabitants of Baghjan, in the loss of their homes, livestock and livelihoods which were\ consumed by over 5-month long fire. The documentary also looks at the environmental aspects of the disaster as the eco -sensitive zones namely Dibru- Saikhowa National Park and Maguri -Motapung Wetlands located in close
proximity, were also impacted by the spreading inferno. It raises the most pertinent question about how a natural gas drilling well, known for its hazardous contents, was allowed to operate in an eco-sensitive zone with human and endangered birds and other species living in close
proximity. Though it is the biggest gas and oil well fire in India’s history but a large part of the nation is still unaware. This documentary attempts to show the reeling wheels of development: progression and regression and the intrinsic human nature of being hopeful for a better tomorrow even if it literally means to build up from the ashes.

Baghjan Reels (34mins documentary)
Director – Tahin Ojah Sharma
Producer – Tahin Ojah, under the banner of RaSwar Films
Cinematographer – Maharshi Tuhin Kashyap
Sound Design – Arunjyoti Sarmah
Script Writer & Voice Over – Shantanu Sharma
GFX – Nitin Bhalla
Light Man – Ganesh Bora
Camera Asstt – Mridul Bora