Need for all film producers,directors coming together to produce films with good script ensuring audience coming to theatres after buying tickets

The Parvatiya Kala Manch and Jodha films organised a seminar of Uttarakhand Theatre and films under the title Uttarakhand Theatre and movies – Direction and Condition at International Youth Hostel in Chanakyapuri presided by the leading journalist, film critic and recipient of prestigious Sangeet Natak Academy Award Diwan Singh Bajeli.

The leading entrepreneur of Uttarakhand and proprietor of Sea Hauk Travels Narendra Singh Ladwal was the chief guest on this occassion.

The eminent guest speakers on the above subject were leading dignitaries from bureaucracy, literature, writing and journalism across spectrum viz managing director of Dedicated BV Freight Corridor Corporation of India Hira Ballabh Joshi, iconic literateur, author of several books Dr.Harisuman Bisht, the former state minister of Uttarakhand P.C Nailwal, social activist Ramesh Kandpal, and Sanjay Joshi entrepreneur and the producer of regional film Chakravyuh Sanjay Joshi etc.

The debate was initiated after a poetry of legendary poet and thinker Girish Tiwari ” Girda” was presented by the artists of Parvatiya Kala Manch and Sriganesh Meetakshi Karnatak.

Speaking on the ocassion, the chief guest of the event Narendra Ladwal shed light on the poor condition of the plays and films of Uttarakhand saying that lot needs to be done in this context. Emphasising on the unity and reiterating on regular mutual discussion ” Chintan” Ladwal said that the intellectuals need to be brought into consideration. He said that it is our misfortune that our ancestors have not given the old traditional values ( the way of doing) and system to their future generation which is presently lacking them. He said special emphasis should be given to script of the movie which should be outstanding and the filmmakers should go for production of maximum two or three films in a year cumulatively but their quality should be outstandingly laudable so that the audience come to theatres enthusiastically to watch these films buying tickets instead of making films with a view to just mint mint lacking quality. He said that our new generation should be taught their regional Kumaoni , Garhwali and Jaunsaari languages and the films should be made on the historic stories of bravery, culture, tradition etc including outstanding feats of our iconic figures. Unless our children learn their regional languages, culture, traditions and films made on decent script not from the angle of getting subsidies , the regional film industry of Uttarakhand won’t prosper.

The producers , directors and film fraternity should all come together and hold mutual discussions concentrating on quality films and best script / playwright said leading entrepreneur of Uttarakhand Narendra Ladwal, the chief guest of the seminar.

One of the leading filmmakers of Uttarakhand and theatre activist who has organised several impressive plays of Uttarakhand and a movie Rajula Malushai having won several awards Manoj Chandola said that from 1992 to 2012 no Uttarakhandi film was released.

We should concentrate on good script. Directors producers should coordinate in Bollywood pattern and produce films by sharing cooperation and expertise. Films are being produced but should not be made from the point of view of seeking subsidy from the government to earn profits. He emphasised that the script should be such that the film goes to international platforms/ film festivals and earn laurels and audience are impressed by its story coming to theatre buying tickets said Manoj Chandola.

Renowned theatre activist Lakshmi Rawat said that in 1983 the first first Garhwali film JAGWAL was produced. JAGWAL brought tremendous optimism in field of regional film making in Uttarakhand. There was such a craze for this first Garhwali movies that the ticket of Rs. 5 was sold in black of Rs 100 in Mavlankar Hall, Rafi Marg, New Delhi said Lakshmi Rawat. Since then lot of films came and are still coming but the films are not being made from the angle of earning profits as they lack qualitative base. Similarly this is the case with theatre ( Garhwali, Kumaoni). Our majority of the dramas were Anusthans not theatre. She questioned : What is the reason that after forty years of the first film JAGWAL coming into existence for the very first time that we are still lagging behind not not making quality films earning profits. The main reason behind this is the lack of unity among Uttarakhandies, actors and those associated with theatre and films. This being the main reason – for we lagging behind in the field of films and dramas we need to choose good actors Lakshmi Rawat said as we have sidelined the quality of acting in an actor/ artist and preferred going behind the colour of the skin and glamour of a hero or heroine but not acting.

She catagorically said that till the theatre and films will not be complimentary to each other, the Dasha and Disha of theatre and films will not be improved.

IRAS Hira Ballabh Joshi said, our culture is visible everywhere. Many words of our dialect are spoken in their original form. The dishes are good, demicious, there is variety. There is no such variety in the whole world. Hudkiya Baul, Bair Gayan will not be found anywhere else in the world. Our folk genre binds everyone, attracts everyone’s attention.

Much more is yet to come. Kumaon’s Holi is like Gujarat’s Garba. The specialty of Holi is Awadhi. The lyrics are good. The theatre of the region has become better than before. A band should be formed and it should perform all over the country and the world said Joshi which is his long felt dream said Joshi.

In addition to the above dignitaries film actor Rakesh Gaur, playwright and novelist Dr. Hari Suman Bisht, Academy Award winner Bhupesh Joshi, film director Sushila Rawat, Hill Art Center President Chandra Mohan Pappai, theater artist Dr. Kamal Karnataka, coordinator Dinesh Phulara, former Minister of State Puran Nailwal, Sanjay Joshi, Ramesh Ghildiyal and Patrakar Tiwari, associated with films, expressed deep and informative views on the perspective of regional theatre and the films produced.

Expressing their views on the topic of discussion, the speakers said, it was hoped that regional films of Uttarakhand would become a source of employment. After a long time, the dreams have now taken life. But the destination has not been achieved yet. It is necessary to make continuous efforts said majority of the speakers.

It was said that the regional dialect should be promoted by working on plays and films. Artists from other states have enriched the plays and films of other states. We should also promote other states by giving place to good and emerging theatre artists in our plays and films.

The speakers said that people come to a play not to listen to speeches but to see something new. Before staging a play, every genre of play must be understood. It was said that the problem of condition and direction has always been there. Thinking is always necessary. Why should we do theatre? Because we learn from theatre. We learn from foreign theatre as well.

The speakers said that we have to change according to the changing times. New technology has to be used in films and theatre. Production costs can be reduced by digitising songs and music. Apart from acting, artists lack knowledge of other genres, artists should also have knowledge of other genres.

The speakers said that we are rich in terms of diversity. Like other states, an auditorium for Uttarakhand should also be built in Delhi, for which collective efforts should be made. When there is brainstorming, conclusions are also drawn. What should be the future thinking, it can inspire us.

It was said that the situation is bad, the direction has to be changed. People want to see something new. New youth should develop new technology and new thinking. Everyone has to be encouraged. Our folk theatre has many specialties, the future of plays and films can be good. Many plays and stories are being written on the regional background of Uttarakhand but they are not getting promoted.

The event was very dexterously and ably moderated by the leader theatre actor, script writer and anchor Hem Pant.