Appeal of cinema is universal: Jahnu

Vittange says no power can stop good movies from going global

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Oct 29: How great filmmakers think like is out in the open on Sunday at Guwahati Intertiol Film Festival (GIFF) Open Forum at Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra, Guwahati.

Prominent filmmakers like Shazi N Karun, Prasan Vittange from Sri Lanka, Jahnu Baruah, Haobam Pawan Kumar from Manipur, Manoj Borpujari and others were present at the forum.

Speaking at the forum, Vittange said: “Cinema is a visual medium. The concepts of the movies are same, but the faces are different at different countries and places. Cinemas are made up of different cultures and traditions. If a cinema is made properly, no power can stop it from gaining popularity and viewership worldwide. Turkey, Iran and India are the three countries that play cinemas of one another. In rest of the world, Hollywood movies are shown. It’s a good sign that two Assamese films – Village Rock Stars and A Man with Binocular – directed by Rima Das have been able to win awards at various film festivals. Before making a film, a filmmaker needs to delve deep into the story and the very society it is based on.”

Director of intertiol repute Jahnu Baruah said: “I did approach organizers of various film festivals in my lifetime. From my persol experience, I like to say that the appeal of cinema is universal, not local. A cinema is made on emotions of human beings. Though compassions are different at different places, their purposes are same.” Czech Republic Ambassador to India Milan Hovorka said: “It’s freedom for a filmmaker to make a film. Filmmakers need to view the very societies their films are based on to be successful.” Haobam Pawan Kumar from Manipur said: “I made my first film based on my own experience as all humans are related to each other. Film festivals like GIFF are opportunities for budding filmmakers like us.”