Films lucrative career in the NE

Thursday, July 27, 2006
Guwahati (UNI): The film industry is fast emerging as a lucrative career option for the youths of North East, with the lone institute in film training in the region hard pressed to meet the growing demand. The Jyoti Chitraban Film and Television Institute (JCFTI) in Guwahati has recorded cent per cent placement since it was set up in 1999. But lack of government initiative in developing it further has proved to be a hurdle. Nodal officer of the institute, Bimal Krishna Sharma said, ''We have received tremendous response from the students since the institute was opened seven years ago.'' The institute currently offers three years diploma in motion picture photography, audiography and sound engineering and film and video editing. It also has a one year certificate course in applied acting (film and TV). The institute takes in a total of 50 students for all the courses with specific seats reserved for Asom and the other NE states, including Sikkim, separately.

Mr Sharma said there was growing demand for increasing the number of seats. He said ''We receive more applications than we can accommodate. There has been a demand for more seat allocation from Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur.'' ''We are yet to get any student from Tripura, though some people from there had enquired about admission in the next session,'' he added. He informed that the JCFTI admits students from other seats only after proper verification from the concerned state. A student has to seat for a written test and face an interview board for admission into the institute. The entire process is done with the help of the Directorate of Technical Education.

The officer alleged lack of government support in developing the institute. He said the institute, set up under the Jyoti Chitraban Film Studio Society (JCFSS), was yet to receive independent recognition. He said the infrastructure for the institute is provided by the Society, but in absence of independent existence, the institute's future is in jeopardy. Mr Sharma informed that a memorandum submitted by prominent film personalities of the region to the Asom government for special emphasis on the JCFTI in April last year had been forwarded to the DoNER. Department of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Minister P R Kyndiah had shown a positive response and assured of development of the institute under his ministry.

Mr Sharma said the government had submitted a Rs 12.95 crore project to the DoNER for renovation of the institute. A portion of the 72 bigha land under the JCFSS would also be sanctioned for permanent premises of the institute. He said, ''The government has plans for its renovation but nothing for sustaining it.'' He said the JCFTI was facing growing demand for introduction of new courses in other branches of film making. With the government showing interest in the development of the institute in the last Assembly session, Mr Sharma hoped the JCFTI would get a new lease of life.

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