The Manipuri film actors in the city on Sunday. Picture by Manas Paran

Jan. 9: The city may soon provide the backdrop for many a Manipuri movie if one goes by indications given by a leading film company from the state.

A team of the company, Skyline Picture, today left for Imphal with a promise to return soon after spending a week at various locations of the city for the film Pal Ama Na. The mighty Brahmaputra, green hills and places of historical interests in the city provided the right backdrop for the film shoots.

Ajit Yummam, scriptwriter and producer of the movie, said Guwahati is the ?right and suitable? destination for filmmakers from the entire region. ?The shooting of Pal Ama Na on the Brahmaputra riverfront and other places, including Manipuri Basti, was highly successful. We have decided to shoot our next film here,? he added.

The story of the film revolves around the trauma faced by two Manipuri women who are married to a single man. The film will be released on January 20.

R.K. Amarjit, leading star of Manipuri films, who is playing the role of the protagonist in Pal Ama Na, said Guwahati has full potential to become a film city.

Amar Raj and Isomani, directors of the movie, said Guwahati would be the first preference of Manipuri filmmakers in the coming days.

To promote the city as a destination for filmmakers from across the region, the Jyoti Chitraban Society has announced a slew of offers, including 25 per cent discount for all kinds of audio and visual recording at the film studio, as a New Year gift.

Nazreen Ahmed, secretary of the society, said it was an extremely good development that filmmakers from other parts of the region are coming to Guwahati.

Necessary infrastructure like packager deal for making audio albums and CDs, guest accommodation available with initial provision for 10 beds, a canteen serving bed tea to dinner, an air-conditioned theatre hall for screening of premier shows, a modern makeup room and round-the-clock booking service have been created inside Jyoti Chitraban.

The Assam tourism department has already thrown open the parks in the city for film shooting in a bid to earn revenue.

The parks will be used exclusively for film shooting on Fridays, on which they remain closed to the public.