Guwahati, May 9: The Prag Cine Awards function will be held at Kokrajhar on June 17 and 18 to foster a sense of unity between the Bodos and other Assamese communities.
According to the organisers, AM Television, Assamese films have not been popular in the Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD) areas lately. The event is hoped to lead to renewed interest among the Bodo people and the making of a few Assamese films may result from it.
The awards have been held outside Guwahati in the past - in Bangalore, Dibrugarh and Tezpur.
According to Sanjive Narain, the director of AM Television, this year the event was delayed because of the demise of Padma Shri Arun Sarma, the president of Prag Cine Awards.
The event was initially scheduled to be held in Dubai but was cancelled after the demise. Veteran actor Biju Phukan is now the president.
Film director Munin Barua, popularly known as Bhaimon da, will be bestowed the Lifetime Achievement Award this year. The award comprises Rs 1 lakh in cash and gift vouchers from the various sponsors of the event.
Altogether 35 films from the region, produced last year, will participate in 23 categories, including Best Film, Best Director and Best Actor (male and female).
Biju Phukan said, "I cannot take the place of Arun da. We have worked hard at making the award function a big event and the credit goes to Sanjive. I do not know why Assamese films are not being received well by people in places like Kokrajhar. We want to bind the people of the state through culture."
Actor Nipon Goswami said, "Many good films have come out recently but received a lukewarm response. Theatre halls are pulling down Assamese films as soon as a Bollywood film is released. This has to stop. We should encourage the new generation of artistes who are very talented. It will require everyone's effort to keep the Assamese film industry alive."
Performances by veteran as well as new actors and artistes are scheduled to be showcased on a common platform through the event to highlight the golden age of Assamese cinema.
