GUWAHATI, June 30 � The film fraternity of the State today put up a united show at Dighalipukhuiripar here, exhibiting their resolve to revive Assamese cinema and to bail out the industry from the crisis situation.
All the popular faces of the Assamese cine world as well as those working behind the camera observed the day of solidarity under the aegis of the Film Fraternity of Assam (FFA).
�It is not a protest, rather a constructive exercise to address our grievances, share our thoughts and express our feelings on a common platform. From new entrants to the veterans, all would exchange their thoughts for a united approach towards solving our problems,� said noted filmmaker Jahnu Baruah.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who also visited the venue, assured the artistes of extending all possible help to the industry. �We are interested in contributing our bit for revival of Assamese cinema,� said Sonowal.
Though many steps have been taken to tackle the issues hampering growth of the regional films, the fraternity had always felt the need for a joint effort to address the issues like marketing and exhibition of Assamese films, finance and production, quality and overall revival of Assamese cinema.
Singer Zubeen Garg appealed for social support for the film industry. �It is good news for Assamese cinema that we are united to fight for its cause. We will have to make this local industry self-sufficient so that we are not bogged down by Bollywood,� he said.
Actors Jatin Bora, Kapil Bora, Barasha Rani Bishaya, Prastuti Parashar, Zerifa Wahid, Rabi Sarma, Aimee Baruah among others were present at the venue. Veterans like Pulak Gogoi, Badal Das, Brajen Bora and Manju Bora also encouraged the young generation to keep up the good work for reviving the industry. AGP president Atul Bora was also present on the occasion.
�Assamese films always suffer due to the high preference for Bollywood films. After release, the films are screened for just a week that does not give the audience a chance to enjoy the films in leisure,� said Zerifa Wahid.
Rabi Sarma, while stressing the need to produce quality work to attract good audiences, said that the government�s intervention was required to fix a certain time period to showcase the local films. �The time slot for Assamese films should also be changed. If the films are not screened on prime time, even the hardcore Assamese film lovers would not feel comfortable to go to the cinema hall at odd hours,� he said.
Pulak Gogoi also asked the government to simplify the licensing process and make it corruption-free to encourage more and more filmmakers to produce Assamese films.
