Originally written as a poem by Karen Weed, 'Assam Skies' depicts the life and relationship of an English tea planter and Rampiyari, a young tribal girl from the tea gardens of Assam. This is a true story based in the era of Colonial rule in India. Rampiyari died of a broken heart when her two children were taken away from her and put into a home for orphans in Assam. It was the same year when their father married his English wife.

Assam Skies is the 5th from the ChaiTunes series of music videos. It is a collaborative project where, for the first time, Assamese traditional musical instruments are fused with an American country/folk styled song. 'Assam Skies' also won the runners up award at the UK Songwriting Competition.

The poem has been converted to a ballad by an American country singer Char Seawell and Assamese musician/producer Jim Ankan Deka. Very soon, the musical video depicting the story of Karen's great grandmother Rampiry will be released online by Bangalore based production house Music Malt under ChaiTunes Project.

CREDITS
Lyrics: Karen Weed (UK)
Music by : Jim Ankan Deka and Char Seawell (US)
Produced by: Karen Weed, Debjani Hazarika & Jim Ankan Deka
Video Director: Tarunabh Dutta (TD Film Studio)
DOP: Tarunabh Dutta, Prabal Gogoi
Teaser video: Pragyan Bezbaruah
Production Assistants: Himakhi Dutta, Angshumann Bhattacharya
Camera: Tarunabh Dutta, Pragyan Bezbaruah, Arnabjyoti Kashyap, Nitesh Parvat, Prabal Gogoi
Cast: Lain Heringman (Spain), Gargi Buragohain, Alice Banting Bhattacharya (UK), Nitesh Parvat, Arnabjyoti Kashyap, Bishnu Pada Pramanik, Gobind Gogoi.
Child artists: Harshita Baruah, Bornali Thakuria
Musicians: Jim Ankan Deka (guitar & keys), Char Seawell (vocals), Catherine Khiangte (vocals), Debojit Kalita (flute), Barun Das (Assamese traditional instruments), Prabal Gogoi (cajon), Jenie (percussion)

A ChaiTunes Presentation

Powered by: Music Malt in association with OK North East
Music Arrangement by: Jim Ankan Deka
Associated band: Eastern Fare

Special thanks to
1. Pocket Friendly Travels (www.pocketfriendlytravels.in) for the teaser videos.
2. Rohit (Rana) Choudhury for the locations and heritage bungalow.
3. Manohar Choudhury & Heritage Automobile Association of Assam (HAAA) for the vintage cars.
4. People of Garo Para and Nokari villages of Assam.
5. Simi Batra, Antara Bordoloi Kalita, Jubee Baruah and Arzoo Sarma for the costumes and the heritage items.
6. Joey Baruah, Rajat Bangia, Rakesh Borgohain.
7. Entire teams of TD Film Studio, Guwahati; Music Malt; OK North East; JM Design Studio; Jenie's Mascara and Eastern Fare.