SEPTEMBER 8, 2018 Sight & Sound Prantik Deka 19 cording to co-producer Do- at the 50th Asian Body- ley, who hails from Assam, building and Physique Bringing Cinema to Streaming Portal 'Movietonne' Launched it will be an out-and-out ac- Sports Championships. The film, now in post- ovietonne, Northeast India's first The streaming site aims to offer over 100 re- production stage, is People's Courtyard dedicated online platform to gional cinemas in the future. Movietonne's first a sincere endeavour Mstream Assamese and regional batch of films include 'Aei Maatite', 'Local towards establishing films, was launched recently with a platter Kung Fu 2', 'Chaaknoiya', 'Shakira Aahibo stronger socio-cul- ith the aim of promoting Assamese attract a large segment of the population in the of 16 different flicks. Bokul Tolor Bihuloi', 'Dinabandhu', 'Adomya', films and extending their reach into rural and other hitherto untapped places. tural ties between the remote areas of the State, a mo- On the occasion of its launch, Hiren Bora's "The biggest problem of Assamese films is 'Anuradha', 'Mriganabhi', 'Juye Poora Xoon', the two countries. W the lack of space and time for screen. People 'Samiran Barua Ahi Ase', 'Dikchow Banat Pa- bile multiplex cinema hall was recently inaugu- Assamese film 'Sima - The Untold Story' was The film, shot in the rated by Nipon Goswami and Zerifa Wahid at screened to an appreciative audience, compris- laax', 'Jeeye Jurir Xubaax', 'Jajabor', 'Jaang- Bhutia language, will the Assam Engineering Institute playground, ing of celebrities from Assamese cinema, jour- faai Joonaak' and 'Bokul'. They also plan also be released in nalists from the print and elec- to include regional language films from Assam. tronic media as well as enthu- across the Northeast. "We are in talks with Doley, who is cred- siasts. A film on the backdrop Khasi and Mizo filmmakers, and maybe ited to be the first of the India-China conflict of in a month or so we will have those too," Assamese to work in 1962 has never been made be- says Kalita. the Bhutanese film fore. It was at a time when the Till now, there has been no dedicated on- industry, was in- country was at the mercy of line platform to stream Assamese or re- volved as a director the marauding Chinese troops gional films, they said. rampaging across our land. of photography in Merely five Assamese films are available earlier Bhutanese The story focuses on the spir- on some popular digital platforms like it and determination of a blind tion thriller. projects such as 'Thank You Netflix or MovieSaints. Kalita said that In the film, Singh will lock Sir' which was considered to child hailing from a poor fam- the website will also offer a platform for ily of Tezpur and the role of a horns with Sangay Tshelt- be the most expensive Bhu- filmmakers to crowdfund their upcoming rim, a former Mr Asia silver tanese film with around 750 British journalist. There is also want to watch these films, but they cannot projects. "We already have two upcoming an intriguing love story that medallist and gold medallist cast and crew members. unfolds during the oppressive due to very few numbers of halls and on- films on board. We are offering many bene- period, when the people of slaught of outside films. Movietonne is Tezpur began to evacuate the trying to address that," Movietonne's town for fear of life, leaving Manas Pratim Kalita, a 25-year-old engi- Veteran Actor Guna Mahanta behind everything they owned. neering student based in Guwahati, and The film appealed to a lot of Spandan Keot said in their joint presenta- people present in the make- tion on the launch. Two years ago, Kalita shift auditorium. A multi-star- and five of his friends (Spandan, Gunajit, Passes Away rer, the compelling acting by Udipto, Jutika and Sangita) started test- versatile artiste of film completed his school at Hati- the leading artistes George ing the waters. "We did some market re- and stage, Guna Mah chung. He later settled at Fauj- Chandmari, Guwahati. Prag has joined hands Baker, child artiste Rodali Bora and Dr Jaha- search and ended up with fascinating re- anta passed away at daripatty in Nagaon town. His with Picture Times, which has planned a multi- nara Begum came in for special appreciation. A sults. For one, right after 'Village Rock- his residence in Nagaon re- worked in more than 50 Assa- fold expansion of its mobile digiplex theatre Cinematographed by Vivek Banerjee and mu- stars' won the National Award earlier this cently. He was 72. Mahanta mese films. Mahanta had en- operations in the country, to initiate this project year, there was an increased tendency for under the newly established Prag Picture Time. tered the cinema industry people in India to search for 'Assamese rather late. "He came to the Things will never be the same again. People are Cinema' online. We also found out that going to get the opportunity to watch movies cinema only in 1994 through Jahnu Barua's 'Konikar Ramdhenu' (2003) has fits at a minimal rate to the producers. We Chandra Mudoi's film 'Agni- in a multiplex like ambiance. The mobile multi- a massive following in Japan!" says Kalita. are hopeful that this will help the Assamese plex cinema hall consists of a UFO digital pro- garh'. In most of films he had jector, a Dolby Stereo sound system, a LCD It really set the young group thinking, and film industry a lot," he added. played the role of a father," screen that measures 20 feet by 12 feet, and a they began working on their platform. Movietonne is dedicated to Jyoti Prasad said film critic Arun Lochan comfortable seating arrangement that can ac- "Right now, a viewer can watch the movie Agarwala and even the name is inspired by Das. 'Ronangini', 'Shesh Up- commodate up to 120 people in an air-condi- multiple times under 24 hours for forty ru- Chitralekha Movietone - the banner under ahar', 'Prem Aru Prem', tioned inflatable all-weather structure which pees," says Kalita, adding that 60% of the which Agarwala started directing movies. The 'Morom Nodir Gabhoru has its own electric motor generating system. earnings go to the producer, while the start- team will be launching their Android app in Ghat', 'Ei Morom Tomar up will keep 40 %. October and iOs later this year. Babe', 'Maghot Mamonir sically scored by Tarali Biya', 'Mitha Mitha Sarma, 'Sima - The Un- Logonot', Munin Barua's told Story' also stars 'Kanyadaan' and Jatin Bora's Nipon Goswami, Rita Indo-bhutan Joint Venture To 'Adhinayak' are some of the Bora, Dr Shyamal films where Mahanta had Saikia, Ankita Saikia, acted. He had acted in around Ujjal Saikia, Deepa Hit Theatres Soon 70 videos, a number of tele- Chetri, Dristi Nayana Das, Nilim Dutta, had been suffering from heart vision serials and many plays. Manoj Borkataky, etc. or the first time, an India-Bhutan joint east with involvement of Strawberry Magic disease and neurological dis- 'Togoror Biya', 'Griha Lakshmi', The occasion was also feature film collaboration is on its Production - a Guwahati-based production order for the last couple of 'Anjana', 'Jetuka' and 'Bogitora' graced by filmmaker Fway for a commercial release with house with its owner Biplob Doley work- years and was undergoing are some of his notable videos. Rima Das, Zubeen production teams and actors of the two coun- ing as the director of photography, and treatment. Mahanta was invited to the Garg, BJP MP Bijoya tries working together to strengthen socio- Project Bhutan Entertainment, a production The actor, who was a bachelor, mobile theatres by many re- The mobile hall will also be able to screen all Chakravarty, Editor-in-Chief of Pratidin cultural ties between the two countries. house of Bhutan. rendered great contribution to nowned producers. But he re- the newly released films simultaneously with Time, Nitumoni Sakia, among others. San- 'Singye' (Lion) is slated for commercial re- The film has Bollywood actor Thakur Anup the field of Assamese film in- fused to be a part of it. He other cinema halls of the country. With its state- jive Narain, CMD of Prag Channel, also has lease in October in the small Himalayan Singh who played the main antagonist in dustry during his lifetime. Ma- also contributed regularly of-the-art technology, and at affordable rates, plans to launch ten such cinema halls by kingdom and later in Assam. The joint col- Bollywood flick 'Commando 2'. He will be hanta was born in 1946 in Sen- about socio-cultural events in it's being perceived as a medium which will December this year. laboration has contributions from the North- seen in 'Singye' playing the main villain. Ac- chuwa (near Nagaon town) and newspapers. Bank schemes for FROM THE EXPERTS... 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