Information and public relations department minister Brishen Patel and (right) deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi inaugurate the festival on Tuesday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, March 22: Deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi demanded quality Bhojpuri films, suitable for all people, at the Bhojpuri film festival inaugurated at Mona cinema today.

The festival, organised by the information and public relations department as part of the Bihar Divas celebrations, will continue till March 27.

While seven Bhojpuri films will be screened till March 24 at Mona cinema, 12 documentaries will be screened at AN Sinha Institute between March 25 and March 27. Residents from across the state have been invited to watch these free-of-cost.

The films that were screened today were Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo and Kab Aaubi Aganawa Hamar.

Modi lamented the kind of Bhojpuri films made in recent times and called for better cinema. Pointing to Bhojpuri star Manoj Tiwari, who was also present at the occasion, Modi said: “Many times I have heard that the kind of Bhojpuri films which are being made are not suitable for family viewing. Manoj Tiwari is present here. I would request him to make films which can be viewed by all classes of people.”

Modi, referring to the vulgarity in Bhojpuri films, said: “Decency has to be maintained in Bhojpuri films.”

On Modi’s comments, Tiwari said: “I support his point. He has raised a very good question. The Bhojpuri film industry will surely make efforts to produce quality films. I still cannot believe that the state government has organised this programme on such a large-scale. It is a really proud moment for each and every Bihari.”

The deputy chief minister pointed out the significance and importance of Bhojpuri films and said: “Bhojpuri cinema has played pivotal role in creating the identify of Bihar. Litti-chokha is the identity of Bihar and in the same way Bhojpuri films have their own identity. I am a great fan of Bhojpuri films and the movie that is being showed here — Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo — is a great film. It released in 1963 and I had seen it when I was 10-year-old. In a nutshell, I must say that each and every Bihari man owes something to the state and we must ask ourselves what we can do for Bhojpuri films.”

Chief minister Nitish Kumar also supported the cause of Bhojpuri films. He said: “The Bhojpuri film festival will not only entertain the common people but will also support Bhojpuri films in the state. This programme will be different from others. The motive behind organising such an event is to give a platform to Bhojpuri films and documentaries, which they have not received till now. All these films have strong messages and the viewer will get a feel of Bhojpuri culture and tradition through these films.”

Information and public relations department minister Brishen Patel, who was also present at the function, said: “ Earlier, people used to laugh on Biharis but now with the kind of ambience that chief minister Nitish Kumar has created, others see us with a lot of respect and dignity.”

Tiwari also sang the title song of Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo.

R.K. Sahabadi, son of V.P. Sahabadi, the producer of Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo, and Nitin Chandra, the director of Deswa, were also present at the first day of the festival.

Other cultural activities like folk song and dance performances, drama, kavi sammelan, mushayra, santoor bhajan, ghazal, classical singing and painting competition were also organised at different venues as part of the celebrations.