It is history in the making as the first batch of the short-term course began at the Film and Television Institute at its temporary campus, Itanagar which is an extended campus of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.

 

Ever since the Centre’s announcement for setting up of a film institute in Arunachal Pradesh, there has been a huge build-up of expectation among the locals.

Movies are not mere entertainers but are the heart of some serious business. With an eye for beautiful and exotic locations movie business is a spin-off to other sectors such as tourism as well.

 

Endowed with breathtaking beauty and a premier Film and Television Institute in tow—things cannot get better than this. Arunachal must leverage on this fact.

 

 

The shooting of the Shahid Kapoor-Kangana Ranaut starrer ‘Rangoon’ in Pasighat this year has raised hopes of many more films to foray into this Himalayan state. Though Arunachal has not seen a bee-line of filmmakers but the shooting of the Shahrukh Khan-Madhuri Dixit starrer “Koyla” in 1996, in the pristine locales of Tawang is still afresh in every citizen’s memory. Right after the film’s shooting the Shungetser lake saw a huge influx of visitors as street-smart tour guides sold it to tourists as ‘Madhuri lake’ after the filmstar.

 

 

The Arunachal government must understand the importance of movies shot in locales here and work on relaxing entry permits and other bureaucratic hassles. Recently, many affable Arunachalees were offended when ‘Rangoon’ star Kangana Ranaut said in talk show that she and the crew had to answer nature’s call in the open while shooting at Pasighat and its vicinities. But thinking logically, the actor’s comment was not to hurt sentiments but was a testimony of the difficulties they have to undergo as movie stars. Instead this must be taken as constructive criticism which will help the government to work at making the state alluring for movie business.  Hopefully, learning from past mistakes the state works on consolidating this huge untapped sector.

---

Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

<< Back to News List