Dehradun. (08 September, 2024) Development of Uttarakhandi cinema industry is not possible without economic income. Unless regional content, advanced technology and professionalism come in regional films, the audience will not flock to the hall to watch those films. On this occasion, a short film made on Uttarakhandi film industry by the students of Graphic Era was shown, which was highly appreciated and the children who made the film were also honored.
The above thoughts emerged collectively in the seminar organized here today on the topic ‘Uttarakhandi cinema direction, condition and future and problems and solutions’. This program was organized by ‘ in the Doon Library Auditorium here today. Senior film producers, directors, technicians, senior artists and critics of the state gathered in the seminar very factually put forward their arguments in detail on the underdeveloped business aspect of 42 years of Uttarakhandi cinema.
On this occasion, the chief guest of the seminar, Dr. Nitin Upadhyay, Nodal Officer and Joint Chief Executive Officer of Uttarakhand Film Vikas Parishad, said that the Film Policy 2024 has been implemented by the state government to promote the film industry, which is being appreciated by filmmakers and directors across the country. He said that many filmmakers are shooting their films in Uttarakhand, while the film production of Uttarakhand’s language dialect has gained momentum. 50 percent grant, which is a maximum amount of Rs 2 crore, is being given to films in Garhwali, Kumaoni and Jaunsari languages of Uttarakhand. Due to this, a large number of local filmmakers are making films. He said that a film resource directory is being prepared by the Film Vikas Parishad. He said that the new film policy has been implemented from the industry point of view, so that an environment for the film industry can be created in the state.
Earlier, as a representative of the government, the chief guest Mr. Upadhyay was felicitated by presenting him a shawl and a memento for implementing a good film policy in the state. On this occasion, the program’s coordinator Pradeep Bhandari also handed over a three-point demand letter to Mr. Upadhyay on behalf of the film industry. In which, there was a demand to give film awards soon, implement the Film City scheme and also add the Film Artist Welfare Fund to the film policy.
One opinion of all the speakers in the seminar clearly emerged that due to the contribution of the filmmakers and the positive attitude of the government, an excellent environment for regional film production has been created in the state today. This is a pleasant aspect towards getting the culture and language of the hilly state of Uttarakhand recognized on the national and international stage. But despite the production of a large number of regional films, the health of Uttarakhandi cinema is not good commercially as compared to the cinema industry of other states. Because except for the first 2-4 films, the later regional cinema could never do wonders at the box office. There were no queues of people at the ticket counter, which was the reason that the films could not attract the audience. The audience gradually started moving away from cinema. The main reason for the disillusionment of the audience with films is the lack of original content, advanced technology, excellent direction, talented actors and professionalism in the films. In the 90s, where 4 shows of films used to run housefull in cinema halls with a capacity of more than six hundred spectators, today only one show runs in multiplex halls with a capacity of 100 to 200 spectators and the producers and directors have to struggle a lot to fill even that show.
A large number of people including film director Pradeep Bhandari, Sudarshan Shah, Gopal Thapa, Vijay Bharti, Rishi Parmar, Vaibhav Goyal, Kanta Prasad, Bechen Kandiyal, Jai Krishna Nautiyal, Debu Rawat, Govind Negi, Vinay Chanana, Dr. Virendra Bartwal, Deepak Nautiyal, Gambhir Jayada, Badrish Chhabra, Ravi Manmagai, Mohit Ghildiyal, Megha Khugsal, Suresh Bhatt, Anamika Raj, Mansha Kukreti, Mukesh Sharma, Ashish Pant were present in the seminar.
