Anant Mahadevan, director of Gour Hari Dastaan , used an unusual medium to publicise his film: mobile phone covers. “We have to use innovative ways to make the presence of our films felt,” he smiled, while displaying the cover.
Speaking at an interaction at the ongoing BIFFes, Mr. Mahadevan and Rajni Basumatary, director of Assamese film Raag, said they were worried about the dominance of Bollywood films over regional films. Both favoured a policy that facilitated regional filmmakers to screen their film at least two weeks in a cinema.
“Best films are being made in regional languages too, not just in Hindi,” Mr. Mahadevan said. He added that in the situation of “racism in cinema”, it was difficult for good and regional cinema to survive.
Supplementing Mr. Mahadevan’s argument, Ms. Basumatary said: “ Raag was removed from the theatre in one week to facilitate the release of Gunday . My attempts to seek more time for my film to pick up did not yield results.”
