Filmmaker Jodumoni Dutta speaks during the session on Tuesday. Picture by UB Photos

Feb. 7: Assamese feature films are taking a hit because of lack of public interest in them.

Filmmakers spoke about the problems they face in marketing and releasing their films at an interactive session organised at Rabindra Bhawan in the city today.

The interactive session was part of the ongoing Cine ASA Guwahati International Film Festival that began on February 5. The festival will continue till February 11.

“The main problem that we face is that there is little market as a result of which producers do not come forward to produce films. People tend to make adverse comments on an Assamese film even before they watch it in the theatre. This exerts a negative impact on the business done by a film,” said filmmaker Jodumoni Dutta, whose recent movie, Jetuka Pator Dore, received critical appreciation.

“While it is true that the that both good and bad quality Assamese films are made every year, it would help revive the ailing Assamese film industry if the public at least makes an effort to come to the movie halls to watch the films. People purchase videos of Assamese films and watch them at home, but pass a negative comment when the same is released in a movie hall,” he added.

Another problem that the filmmakers face is the lack of halls to release their films.

“I faced a tough situation getting my first feature film, Dhunia Tiruta Bur, released in 2009. While over 100 cinemas across the state have closed down, majority of the remaining halls are in a dilapidated condition. At the end, there are only 30 to 35 digital cinema halls where I can release a new movie. Even then I had to struggle much just to get a movie hall to release my first film. My next movie, Samiran Baruah Ahi Ase, is slated for release soon and I am keeping my fingers crossed that the people will like it,” said filmmaker Pradyut Kumar Deka.

“Though my film, Jetuka Pator Dore, received a good response from the audience, it was taken off screens after running for about two weeks or more as the big-banner Bollywood movie, Bodyguard, was releasing around that time. This was done without my knowledge and I strongly feel that the film would have done much better had it been allowed to run. It is about time the state government makes certain laws to ensure that newly released Assamese films be allowed to run in movie halls for a stipulated period,” added Dutta.

“The distributors too prefer big-banner Hindi and English films to Assamese films. In comparison to other film industries we also fall short on promotion of a movie, as upcoming filmmakers cannot afford to spend Rs 10 lakh or more on marketing their movies,” said Deka.