Promote regional cinema: Nipon Goswami to government

GUWAHATI: Veteran Assamese actor and theatre personality Nipon Goswami on Tuesday urged the Assam government to frame strict rules making it mandatory for all cinema-hall owners to give priority to films made in the Assamese film Industry rather those from Bollywood and Hollywood. Speaking at the Guwahati Press Club's 'Guest of the Month' programme, Goswami blamed lack of initiative from the state government in opening mini cinema halls in sub-urban areas and failure to control the lobbies of film distributors for dwindling business of the Assamese films in the recent times.
Goswami said: "A few years ago, many cinema halls in the state were shut down after an extremist organisation ordered them to stop showing Hindi films. But Hindi films are not the not the sole reason for the decline in the Assamese film industry. Owners of cinema halls in Assam must follow the multiplex paradigm and develop the infrastructure of theatres. After all, the audiences want a pleasant environment inside the halls, a basic factor missing from the older cinema halls in Guwahati."
The thespian urged the Assam government to frame new rules making it mandatory for cinema halls to screen Assamese films immediately after their release. "The film distributors' lobby main motive is to make money and safeguarding our culture does not seem a priority for them. The government should intervene because many good Assamese films have not been released in thetares to accommodate Bollywood hits," he said.
Goswami said that though a state cine-workers' association had submitted a memorandum to the government three years ago to provide funds worth Rs 8 crore for establishing mini cinema halls in smaller towns and help the artistes, the state had done nothing about the demand.
He added that there is no dearth of audience for Assamese films, but they have to be made more accessible to the locals. "People in Assam eagerly wait for the season when mobile theatres screen films. Our film industry can be revived of the government can fund the construction of around 300 mini cinema halls in Assam. Financers are ready to contribute, but the government also needs to play its part," Goswami said.
Goswami has featured in prominent Assamese in films including 'Dr Bezbaruah', 'Mukuta', 'Maanab Aru Daanab', 'Abhijaan' and 'Dooronir Rang' and 'Aajoli Nobou'. He also played many popular roles in mobile theatres.