An insightful panel discussion at the 8th Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival (BVFF) explored the exciting potential of Assamese cinema to break through regional barriers and achieve commercial success.
Moderated by cultural activist and actor Nandini Sharma, the session featured renowned figures from the Assamese film industry including National award-winning filmmakers Utpal Borpujari and Monjul Baruah, popular actor-director and producer Jatin Bora, actor Barsha Rani Bishaya, and producer Shyam Bora.
Borpujari traced the evolution of Assamese cinema, highlighting milestone movies like ‘Dr Bezbaruah’ and the role of the Baruah brothers and their contributions for cinema in Assam. He acknowledged the lack of cinema halls in Assam, a hurdle successfully navigated by mobile theatres tapping into audiences in remote regions.
Actor-producer and director, Jatin Bora spoke on the lack of pre-release revenue streams like music rights, satellite rights and digital rights which makes the business of Assamese cinema limited to cinema halls. “We are not producers but gamblers. Making every film is no less than a gamble for Assamese producers,” he said.
Popular actor, Barsha Rani Bishaya lamented the limited facilities and resources of producing Assamese cinema. She also pointed out the lack of a government support and a dedicated film policy in Assam.
Monjul Baruah, drawing from his own experiences, also spoke of the negative perception some Assamese people have towards their own cinema.
Shyam Bora, with his experience of working in various Mumbai based production houses, offered a different perspective. He advocated for a Western-style model, viewing the world as a market and tackling content with global sensibilities. He cited the success of ‘Kothanodi’ as an example of this approach, emphasizing the film’s universal approach but folklore-inspired narrative.
The panel also discussed solutions for Assamese cinema’s future. Borpujari stressed on the need for more theatres, citing Kerala as an example of a region where cinema thrives because of their good numbers of cinema halls. “Filmmakers and writers should also explore diverse genres and a shift in audience behavior towards accepting and watching Assamese cinema is also required” he added, urging viewers to celebrate their cinema.
Barsha Rani Bishaya highlighted the crucial role of music in cinema to attract audiences, citing the popularity of songs by ‘Raghupati’ and ‘Ratnakar’ in recent times. “So, we should also focus on creating good soundtracks that resonate with the masses for our films to be successful because the songs are an window to cinema,” she added.
Shyam Bora highlighted the importance of pre-production preparation, urging writers and directors to constantly adapt and assess the evolving film landscape and trends before investing in cinema.
Monjul Baruah emphasized the power of passion and perseverance, reminding aspiring filmmakers that good work gets noticed eventually.
The Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival (BVFF), under the leadership of founder and festival director Tanushree Hazarika, played a pivotal role in bringing together the esteemed panel on Assamese cinema. By fostering open discussions on the challenges and prospects of the industry, the BVFF provided a platform for insightful dialogue, not just for filmmakers and industry professionals, but for the region as a whole.
