Guwahati, May 29: The All Assam Cine Producers' Association has moved chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal for a new law to govern and aid Assamese cinema.

The association also demanded that the Eastern India Motion Pictures Association should not be allowed to function in Assam.

In a memorandum to the chief minister, the association alleged that proposals for the development of the Assamese film industry were submitted to the government on various occasions but no initiative was taken.

It said a full-fledged act, envisaging production, distribution, government aid, subsidy and film festivals, among others matters related to regional films produced in Assam, was very much needed.

Alleging that many cinema hall owners in Assam are reluctant to screen Assamese films, the association said a show screening an Assamese film during primetime should be made mandatory in every hall. It said the state government had decided to provide financial aid, ranging from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 50 lakh, to hall owners for construction, repair and development of cinemas but this initiative would be worthless if it failed to benefit the Assamese film industry. Getting financial aid from the state government means theatre owners are also accountable for regional films, it added.

The cine body alleged that the Eastern India Motion Pictures Association (EIMPA) was a Bengal-based organisation and had no right to function in Assam but recently films made by the Assam Film Development and Finance Corporation were also registered under the association. So, the association should be banned in Assam and all regional films of Assam should be registered under the All Assam Cine Producers' Association, the cine body claimed.

The BJP-led Assam government has levied a cess of Rs 1 on every cinema ticket to create a welfare fund for cine artistes of Assam. The association alleged that there were no proper rules and regulations to determine the basis on which artistes could claim or receive the welfare benefits.

It suggested forming an advisory committee, comprising artistes, directors, producers and concerned authorities, for proper implementation of this fund.

The association also sought land for its permanent office and urged the government to instruct the district administrations to take the initiative to screen Assamese films in tea gardens from time to time.