A Santhali film shoot in progress. Telegraph picture

Jamshedpur, Feb. 3: After Bhojpuri cinema took film industry by storm, now it’s the turn of Santhali language cinema to make its presence felt.

To bring Santhali cinema to the mainstream, city-based cultural organisation Raghunath Academy of Santhali Cinema and Art (Rasca) has decided to launch the first-ever national-level Santhali talent hunt and film awards in April.

“Santhali cinema and music industry has always been neglected in the sphere of popular cinema. So, the events we launch would not only create a pool of local talents but also give a chance to people from smaller cities,” said Surya Singh Besra, the Ajsu founder-president and the director of Rasca.

To start from April 6, the month-long talent hunt would be held across Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and Bengal. “In the first phase, we will hold auditions in music and acting, ” added Besra. The auditions would be held at Dumka on April 6, Jhargram on April 13, Baripada on April 20 and the final at Jamshedpur on May 5.

The same day, the first-ever Santhali film awards ceremony would be held here. The panel of jury judging the show would comprise filmmakers from Mumbai and Calcutta and the local industry too.

“We have applied for life membership in Indian Motion Pictures Association that would help us give a stand in the national market,” said Besra. Among Rasca’s other plans is a bigger dream for the long run. “Our aim is to carve a slot for Santhali language in the television industry. Talks are on with the Hyderabad-based Eenadu Television to launch a 24-hour Santhali channel soon. Rasca would provide majority of the content for the channel,” added Besra.

If finalised, it would be the first-ever tribal language television channel in the country.