Assamese films going through rough phase: Hussain

GUWAHATI, July 2: In a threadbare discussion with the State’s Chief Minister Sabnanda Sonowal at Janata Bhawan on Monday, internationally acclaimed actor Adil Hussain who was accompanied by Lunch Box producer Shahnaab Alam appraised that the Assamese film industry in the state has been going through a rough phases for which an appropriate interventions is required for overcoming the same. They said that while many Assamese are doing phenomenal work in the celluloid outside Assam, the industry in the state is going through rough phases due to lack of adequate infrastructure and patronage. Being sons of the soil, they offered to extend all support to uplift the present status of the film industry of the state.

Pitching for a film policy protecting the interests of the films of local language, the duo underlined examples of states like Maharashtra where film policy brought great dividends on promoting the Marathi films.

They said that film is the best promotional tool of a state and Assamese movies like Village Rockstars are drawing huge crowds over eighty countries worldwide. However, due to apathy of distributors and exhibitors, Assamese films fail to get enough screen time in the local cinema halls.

Calling for immediate government intervention in this regard, the duo offered to extend all support to convene a meeting with prominent exhibitors and distributors of the country to protect the interests of local cinema. They also suggested measures for quality control in films, which are entitled to get incentives under new tourism policy of the state government.

Appreciating their initiative, Sonowal assured to take expeditious measures for adopting a film policy for Assam taking cue from the successful policies of other states. He also conveyed his best wishes to Adil Hussain for his continued success in the film world. Media Advisor to the Chief Minister Hrishikesh Goswami was also present during the discussion.