It’s Raees, Kaabil versus Assamese cinema Shakira Aahibo Bokultolor Bihuloi

GUWAHATI: An Assamese film maker has sought assistance from a banned militant outfit to ensure his film run in theatres in the state, rekindling an old issue of alleged apathetic attitude of theatre owners towards Assamese cinema.

Himangshu Prasad Das, director of Assamese movie Shakira Aahibo Bokultolor Bihuloi which was released on January 20, allegedly wrote the letter to the “Anti-talk faction of ULFA” following theatre owners' decision to withdraw his film, to accommodate Shah Rukh Khan-starred 'Raees' and ‘Kaabil’ of Hrithik Roshan.

Das has posted an open letter in social media page. The post, addressed to ULFA chief Paresh Barua, sought help in screening of film 'Shakira Aahibo Bokultolor Bihuloi' (Shakira will come to Bokultol's Bihu) in the cinema halls.


Barua called up some local television channels. He said cinema halls must screen the cinema if people want to watch it or ULFA would oppose it.

Police however stated that it is looking the matter. A senior police official said, “We are looking into for it involves inviting a banned outfit.”

In the past, ULFA had banned screening of Hindi cinema in the state. Student body Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) stated, “Uneasy state of affair of Assamese cinema industry has irked us.”

AJYCP president Biraj Kumar Talukdar said that the hall owners must screen the Assamese films to promote the industry apart from screening the Hindi films to survive.

“The situation seems to have gone from bad to worse. Cinema hall owners have been fighting against the odds by screening the Assamese films despite lack of response. Films are screened for financial benefit. They can not afford to keep screening Assamese films even by incurring loss.”

The organization demands screening of Assamese films at least once in a day. "The new arrivals should be screened for a minimum period of three weeks. We think it would be the best possible way to promote the Assamese cinemas apart from allowing the hall owners to make financial benefits by screening Hindi or other movies.”