Nagaon: At a time when there are reports surfacing in the media that the historic Jayashree Cinema Hall in Nagaon will soon be renovated into a marketing complex, as the owner of the land where the hall stands has decided to demolish the building, a group of youths in association with a NGO group Rupantar made out to streets on Thursday to aware people of Nagaon about the importance of preserving the historic cinema hall.
The group of youths while talking to the media had appealed before the Cultural Department of the Government of Assam to look into the matter as soon as possible.
"This cinema hall was constructed by Rupkonwar Jyoti Prasad Agarwala in the name of his daughter Jayshree in the year 1944 and therefore, it has got history related in it. We hereby appeal the Government of Assam to protect this heritage cinema hall as there are memories of Rupkonwar Jyoti Prasad Agarwala still remain intact. Constructing a mall for business purpose will ruin the cultural importance of the cinema hall," said one of the Rupantar NGO member.
The group of youths also suggested for renovating the Jayashree Cinema Hall with a cultural centre in the name of Rupkonwar Jyoti Prasad Agarwala. They further suggested that renovation work can be presided over by building open stage theatre, a museum in the name of Jyoti Prasad Agarwala or Cultural Centre where the old creations of the Assamese cinemas can be screened once again for the public.
Meanwhile, the group of youths also urged Nagaon MLA Rupak Sarma to look into the matter as soon as possible.
It is to be noted that Rupkonwar Jyoti Prasad Agarwala's second film ‘Indramalati’ was screened at this hall.
The decision to demolish the hall has led to reactions among many people in Nagaon.
Earlier, Assamese Filmmaker Parthajit Baruah and other prominent cultural workers of the region came together and urged the state government to declare the hall as a ‘Heritage Building’.