Feature films in North East showing declining trend

Guwahati, July 27: As India prides itself in churning out the most number of films in a year, North East region is lagging behind in the region-wise break-up of the films made in the country.

Talking to UNI, Regional Officer of the Central Board of Film Certification, Guwahati, Abhay Srivastava said the number of feature films being made in the region was displaying a declining trend over the years.

He said, ''On an average, 15 celluloid films are cleared from North East in a year and about 50 video or digital films. The total average comes to 60-65.'' Most of the films are made in Asom and Manipur with Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura accounting for a handful, he added.

The regional officer, who took charge about two years back, said he was yet to come across a movie made in Sikkim during his term.

He said a rising trend had been observed in the number of video or digital movies, while the celluloid films, feature films for the layman, were on a decreasing trend.

While refusing to speculate on the reason behind it, Mr Srivastava said, '' Cost factor and limited market, leading to less business and profitability, may be proving a deterrent for many film-makers. ''

On whether the standard of film making in the region was on a par with the rest of the country, he said, ''We cannot compare the technical finesse of a Rs 50 crore Bollywood movie with that of a Rs 30 lakh regional film. However, the standard is pretty good here, with the region having produced exceptional film makers also.'' ''The affinity of the makers here to replicate Hindi movies may mean brisk business for them in the short term, but originality is essential to leave a mark, '' he added.

He observed that the regional films here rarely reflected the current situation. He said, '' Most films in North East are based on social themes with a current problem of the region serving as a mere background at times. Only a few movies on the current themes disturbing the region are made. '' Mr Srivastava informed that 99 per cent of movies of the North East were 'U' certified, with just a few being categorised 'A' due to violent scenes.

He said, ''People of the region do not approve of skin show or exposure just for the sake of it in their movies. The 'A' certificates we give are limited to movies containing excessive violence.'' The Regional Officer said the regional office here had a single window clearance system. He said, ''Though I am based at Kolkata, I come down twice a month or any time when the need arises.'' UNI