Chhattisgarh ignoring Chollywood cinema in fear of creating South India-like actor-turned-netas?

Chollywood, the fledgling film industry of Chhattisgarh, is gasping for breath, or so claim those working in it. The replacement of single-screen theatres with multiplexes and lack of support from the state government has sounded the death knell for the industry that came into its own - coincidentally - around the same time as the formation of the state less than two decades ago.

Central to the 'Rescue Chollywood' call it the demand to set up a film development body under the state government, a promise that found place in the manifestos of both the BJP and the Congress in the previous election. But it has not seen any success as yet. The net result now is that the industry has started blaming politicians for not wanting to promote the local film industry. Their claim: a film culture in Chhattisgarh would create popular stars, who could pose a challenge to the state politicians in the future, as is the case in South India.

The first Chhattisgarhi movie, Kahi Debe Sandes, was made in 1965. It bombed at the box office. The next movie in the dialect, Ghar Dwar, was made only in 1971 with modest success. Between 1971 and 1999, not a single Chhattisgarhi movie was made. It was only in 2000 that Mor Chaiyan Bhuiyan (My Motherland Is Everything) came out, becoming the first commercially successful Chhattisgarhi movie.

From then on, till about 2012, Chhattisgarhi movies had a good run. But with the replacement of single-screen theatres with multiplexes, more problems crept in. The number of movies went down from about 20 to 10 a year. There was also the pressure on single-screen theatres to pull down Chhattisgarhi movies in favour of the Bollywood ones.

"There are only about 50-60 single-screen theatres left in the state. Also, the dialect is spoken only in areas in central Chhattisgarh, heavily limiting the films' marketability," said Padma Shri Anuj Sharma, a prominent actor in Chhattisgarhi movies. "In neighbouring Maharashtra, there is a rule that all cinema halls have to play Marathi movies. Chhattisgarh needs a similar rule," he added.

Actors are also demanding a cash subsidy for making films and setting up of a film training institute. For the record, all Chhattisgarhi films are tax-free in the state.

Some industry insiders claim that the reason for neglect of the Chhattisgarhi film industry is the political class in the state. "The political leadership in the state in both the prominent parties, the BJP and the Congress, is not from Chhattisgarh, but has come from outside. They have no connect with Chhattisgarhi culture and hence, the apathy. They are also worried that actors may become popular and could influence elections," claims a prominent director of Chhattisgarhi films, not wishing to be named.

The issue of promotion of Chhattisgarhi culture, especially films, is bound to take prominence as the next Assembly elections draw closer. "We have held a meeting of the advisory committee that is looking into what the proposed board will do, its powers and functions. By the next meeting, the proposal would take a concrete form," said Director (Culture) Ashutosh Mishra of the GOCG.

Chhattisgarh has a prominent tradition of folk theatre with Naacha Gammat, Bhatranaat and Bharthari being well-known. Actors feel these art forms provide the fuel for an independent cinema culture in Chollywood. The question is: How long will the art reserve last, unless it gets state support?

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