Lack of infrastructure, market affecting Assamese cinema: Jahnu Barua

New Delhi: National-award-winning filmmaker Jahnu Barua feels that regional cinema in Assam is suffering due to lack of proper infrastructure and market. Barua, 60, believes Assamese filmmakers should learn the art of marketing from their Bollywood counterparts. “Assamese cinema is going through a very bad phase. It’s not that our scripts are not strong but we are struggling with the infrastructure. Market for cinema is small. Youngsters are immensely talented but they are introvert and find it difficult to market their films,” said Barua.[caption id=“attachment_931781” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Filmmaker Jahnu Barua. Image courtesy PIB[/caption] Barua started his career in 1982 with Aparoopa (Expectation) followed by multiple national and international award-winning projects Halodhia Choraye Baodhan Khai (The Catastrophe), Bonani (The Forest), Konikar Ramdhenu (Ride on the Rainbow) among others. The filmmaker made his debut in Bollywood with critically acclaimed Maine Gandhi ko Nahin Mara. His second outing in Hindi Film Industry Shiney Ahuja starrer Har Pal is yet to see the light of the day. “I was hopeful that Har Pal will end the notion that I am an art filmmaker but it is yet to release. I don’t understand why people call me an art director. My films are enjoyable and commercially viable too. I have never portrayed my subjects in an intense fashion,” he said. Barua’s latest Assamese film Baandhon (Waves of Silence) releases today in Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru and other metros. “I didn’t expect that the film will be received so well across the nation. I was taken aback when early this year, PVR approached me and expressed their desire to release the film nationwide. It is the first Assamese film, which is releasing outside the state. I am happy that people are ready to explore regional cinema these days,” he said. Baandhon is based on the story of an old couple whose grandson goes missing in 26/11 attacks and they are forced to come to Mumbai in his search. “I was in IFFI when the gruesome attacks took place. I decided that I will make a simple film on terrorism. So, I narrated my script through the life of an elderly couple,” he said. Barua feels Bollywood did not make enough films on the tragedy. “When 9/11 attacks happened Hollywood made so many films on it but there is no single film in Bollywood on this subject except Ram Gopal Varma’s film. It’s shameful that we did not react to it,” he said. The filmmaker is currently working on his next Bollywood project. It is a love story and will begin shooting later this year.