Shillong, May 28: Filmmakers in Meghalaya are not able to reach out to a larger audience across the state due to lack of cinema halls. As of now, the two cinema halls are in Shillong — La Galleria and Bijou Cinema.
Many film lovers are eager to watch in the big screens some of the movies directed by prominent filmmaker, Pradip Kurbah like Ri, Iewduh, Dei Maphi, Hep, Onaatah, among others, but they are disappointed that these films are also not available on OTT platforms like Netflix. Onnatah was on Netflix for a few months after which it was pulled down.
When contacted, Kurbah said that the two movies, viz. Hep and Dei Maphi are available on VCDs.
“Since I am not the producer of the other films I cannot comment on it,” he said.
According to Kurbah, it is the producer of these movies who decide on re-screening the movies in cinema halls.
The rights of the movie Onaatah are with late actor and director Satish Kaushik who had produced the films. Onaatah is the only Khasi movie which was released on the OTT platform so far.
The producers of the other Kurbah-directed movies are Shankar Goenka, who is the producer of Iewduh, Ribiang Talang producer of Ri, and Saregama is the producer of Hep.
Kurbah, however, said if any university is interested in screening the films, they can always write to the producers and request them to do so.
The noted filmmaker, however, feels that to reach a larger audience they need a theatre in every district of the state.
“But for this to happen it will need the state government to invite investors to set up cinema halls/ multiplexes. The Meghalaya government can follow the example of the Assam government by giving subsidies to encourage theatre owners, who have shut their theatres, to re-open with some financial help from the Government,” Kurbah said.
He, however, said that if the state government comes up with its own OTT platform then it will be a big boost for the local films.
“We already had a meeting with the government on the OTT platform. Let’s see what happens because Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma did announce a package of Rs 15 crore for the OTT platform,” the noted filmmaker added.
Meanwhile, Iewduh movie producer Shankar Goenka said that it is nice to hear that there are people who want to see his movies in the theatre.
“I will discuss with my director (Pradip Kurbah) when we can schedule to re-screen the movie in the cinema halls,” Goenka said.
He said that it is disappointing for the majority of the filmmakers since they are not able to reach a larger audience due to the lack of cinema halls in the State.
Goenka said it would be a great achievement if the Government can set up halls in various parts of the state.
Goenka recalled that there were movie theatres in Jowai, Khliehriat, Tura and Williamnagar in the past.
“Alas! Now all these cinema halls have closed down. Many of the cinema halls in Shillong like Dreamland Gold Cinema and Payal Cinema have also closed down,” he said.
Goenka said that the government has also spoken about coming up with a film policy. According to him, he had even attended a meeting in St. Anthony’s to discuss this policy.
“However, I have not heard anything about this policy after the meeting which was held,” the Iewduh movie producer said.
He further said that he is trying to get an OTT release for his movie Iewduh.
“But it is not easy to get an OTT release since the offices of the OTT platforms in India are in Mumbai and even abroad,” Goenka said.
Meanwhile, Goenka suggested that satellite channels like Star Jalsha and Zee Bangla could be made available to screen the movies being made in the North East.
“I know every filmmaker from the region is facing the problem since they would want to reach a worldwide audience. But they are helpless since there is no such platform available as of now,” Goenka added.
It may be mentioned that there is not a single cinema hall in Garo Hills. Dominic Sangma’s film Ma-Ama, which was screened in many film festivals across the world, could not be screened in Garo Hills for his own people since there is no cinema hall.
In fact, several people spoken to have said there are too few recreational outlets for the youth and others who look for some leisure and wish to see a good Khasi, Jaintia or Garo movie.
