Major boost for Assamese film industry

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi asserted that films should play a positive and educative role and inculcate in the young generation love and respect for the kaleidoscopic culture and the age-old harmony that has been a distinctive trait of the State. Inaugurating the State Film Award Festival 2007, Gogoi called upon the filmmakers to take the colours and smell of Assam to an international audience and bring laurels for the State.

Mr. Gogoi said that the Government was keen to revive the wobbling Assamese film industry that began its journey with Rupkonwar Jyotiprasad Agarwala’s Joymoti. He announced the Government’s decision to set up an archive to preserve the old Assamese films and expressed that the archive would fulfil a long-standing need of the film fraternity.

Giving emphasis on the necessity of regional films to maintain their originality, Gogoi said that imitation and disregard towards the unique socio-cultural fabric of the State on the part of the film makers would be a bane to the industry.

“ The Government has taken up various measures to develop the film industry, but the film makers too have a duty to make films keeping in mind the sensibility of the common viewers,” said Gogoi.

It may be mentioned here that the weeklong film fiesta got off with screening of the hit film Chameli Memsab by Abdul Mazid. The film that tells the story of a white Saheb falling in love with a girl from the tea community was enjoyed once again by the all present including the Chief Minister. The occasion had a hint of the old times with the film’s hero George Baker recalling the past and his association with Assam and Assamese films. Baker said that changes were inevitable for any society, but that he was pleasantly surprised by the way Assam had stuck to its age-old unity even in the midst of changes that were sweeping across. Baker further said that violence and destruction would not take the State ahead and appealed to the perpetrators of subversive acts to shun the path of violence.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister of Cultural Affairs Gautam Bora highlighted on the steps taken by the Government to boost the Assamese film industry. He informed that apart from amending the State film policy for the benefit of the industry, the Government had decided to constitute a welfare fund for the artistes.

Rs 30 cr earmarked for regional film institute

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi felicitated 200 artistes from the Assamese film industry for their contributions to society. The Directorate of Cultural Affairs department organized the felicitation programme under the banner of the ongoing State Film Awards Festival 2007. “The artistes of the regional film industry have contributed immensely for the growth of the society as a whole and the felicitation programme has been organized as a mark of respect to them,” Gogoi said.

Speaking on the occasion, State Cultural Minister Gautom Borah also announced that the cultural department has received a sum of Rs 10 crore from the Central and State Governments for building up a film city in the city.

Assam | North East Enquirer (Headlines) | Nena Home Page |