Filmmaker Maniram expresses concern over Assam film industry degradation

By Peter Todd Alex, Guwahati, Mar 7 : Lack of motivation, infrastructure, funds and militancy has severely affected the Assam film industry, but Assamese filmmakers like N. Maniram provide it with a ray of hope.

With just 320 films in last seven decades, Assamese films have just not been able to make a mark at the national level.

Many Assamese artists have still managed to gain recognition for their performances accross the country.

Bhupen Hazarika, Utpal Datta, Bidyut Chakraborthy, Jahnu Baruah, Jyoti Prasad Aggarwal, Bindiya Goswami, Seema Biswas and Zubeen Garg, all belong to Assamese film industry.

Though filmmakers from the state have got prestigious awards, mass recognition is still missing.

Recently, N Maniram, a young talented director, the bagged National Award for his maiden film, Mon Jai.

Manju Borah and Altaf Majid too won awards in different categories.

"This is my first film and was selected in the India Panorama and I thank my team members for it and the award is for every one. And my team members are happy for the award," N Maniram Director, Mon Jai.

Going by the current trends, Assamese audiences prefer watching Hollywood and Bollywood cinema to regional cinema.

There are about 100 cinema halls in Assam.

Militant imposed restrictions have also curbed development of movies in the region to some extent.

"The fear psychosis is still there and people fear to go to cinema halls because of attacks. And this is very natural. In Guwahati people still go to watch movies but in the rural people are scared and do not prefer to go to theatres," said N Maniram.

The State Government is trying to revive the industry by organizing film festivals, giving tax holidays and setting up new production houses.