Berhampur, Nov. 29: Veteran actors are worried over the future of Odia films because of dual blow to the industry - absence of adequate number of theatres and poorly made productions, mostly the copied ones.

The artistes expressed their concerns at the three-day state-level film festival, Smruti Katha Kahe, organised by the Odisha Film Development Corporation and a local cultural organisation, Anwesha Kala Kendra.

"We lack quality films and need more theatres in the rural areas of the state," said Debu Brahma, who has acted in more than 150 Odia films. "We need more than 200 cinema halls, especially in the rural areas. Since urban people have more access to gadgets, they can watch films on even laptops or mobile phones at their homes. But, that's always not the case with the rural audience."

"Of late, producers are spending lot of money to make a film. But, they experience a dismal figure only due to lack of sufficient exhibition outlets," he said.

Georje Tiadi, a veteran artiste of Odia films, said the government must take steps to set up at least one cinema in each block of the state to create the viewers' interest in Odia films. "Though a lot of Odia films are being produced, most of them are sub-standard. That's why people are not interested to go to a theatre. They prefer television serials to films as they can watch it without spending much," said Tiadi.

"Earlier, one or two films used to be produced in a year, but the production unit was very serious about their creation. Films, including Pua Mora Kala Thakura, Chaka Aakhi Sabu Dekhuchi, Bastraharana, Sradhanjali, Asuchimo Kalia Suna and Chakadola, were hits as they were produced with proper planning and seriousness. But nowadays, the rich producers usually make films, which are inspired from the South Indian films. Viewers do not like these productions as they lack Odia culture and tradition," Tiadi said.

Jeevan Panda, who has acted in more than 100 Odia films, said: "Nowadays, most of the producers are making films in a hurry without considering the economic viability. Usually, the storyline of such films are weak, and that's why the audience do not like them."

Actor Pinki Pradhan said Odia films were better than the Chhatisgarhi and Bhojpuri films. "But, if compared with the South Indian and Bengali films, the Odia productions are lagging behind," Pradhan said.

The first Odia film was made in 1934 simultaneously with the emergence of talkie cinema. In the following four decades between 1934 and 1976, only 44 Odia films were made. There was a substantial growth in the film industry from 1980 to 2010. About 600 Odia films and thousands of documentaries had been produced during this time. The Odia film industry even provided infrastructure for production of Bengali, Assamese, Manipuri and Bhojpuri films.

Film body chairman Munna Khan, who inaugurated the festival, said the state government declared film-making and construction of theatres as industry in 1974. The corporation was set up as the nodal agency in 1976 for all-round development of Odia cinema and thereafter the film sector in the state took the shape of an industry.

"Though there were more than 280 permanent and temporary theatres registered, the number reduced to 140 soon after the super cyclone of 1999. At present, only about 100 cinemas remain operational. Only about 50 distribution units are working in the state. Our focus would now be on theatres in the rural areas," he said.