Jyoti Chitraban Film and Television Institute

Regional Government Film and Television Institute (formerly Jyoti Chitraban Film & Television Institute) (Assamese: জ্যোতি চিত্ৰবন) is the only government-owned Film Institute in Northeast India located at Kahilipara, Guwahati. It is named after Jyoti Prasad Agarwala, the first Assamese Film Director-Producer. The Jyoti Chitraban Film Studio was established in the year of 1961 by the Government of Assam. The Film Institute was set up at the same Studio premises using the same infrastructure in the year 1999.^[2]

History

Jyoti Prasad Agarwala, after Joymoti, started working on Indramalati. To produce the film he made a temporary film studio named Chitraban at Bholaguri Tea Estate.^[3] After his death famous Assamese singer-filmmaker Bhupen Hazarika^[4] with the support of noted singer, dancer, writer and social reformer Bishnuprasad Rabha, demanded the Government of Assam to establish a film studio in Guwahati and also demanded to name it in the memory of Jyoti Prasad Agarwala. In response to the demand, the government in 1961 established the Jyoti Chitraban Film Studio. After more than three decades, famous Assamese story-writer, novelist, film & television screenwriter, columnist and tv actor Arnab Jan Deka moved a formal proposal through the iconic Assamese daily newspaper Dainik Asam in 1996 to establish a Film Institute in the name of the founder of Assamese cinema at the same Jyoti Chitraban Film Studio. The Government of Assam convened an official meeting to discuss Arnab Jan Deka's proposals, which was attended by Secretary and Director of Cultural Affairs Department of Assam Government apart from film industry stalwarts like Kulada Kumar Bhattacharjee, Pranjal Saikia, Arnab Jan Deka. The meeting decided to set up the Film Institute at the said Studio premises utilising the same infrastructure, and thus ushered in beginning of a new era in Assamese Film Industry. In the year of 1999, within the same studio campus, Jyoti Chitraban Film and Television Institute was established. This is the only film and television institute in entire North-east India.

Bishnuprasad Rabha was also recognized as a film director, music composer (Siraj) and actor (Era Bator Sur, Pratidhwani). He was an actor par excellence. His acting expertise was witnessed by Baan theatre of Tezpur. But, he never used this talent for commercial purpose. In spite of having very good rapport with the art world of Calcutta and Bombay, he never left Assam to achieve commercial success in the field of acting. Rather he used his talent to educate the masses. This talent also helped him to move around in disguise during his days of struggle. He also assisted in making of the first Assamese film Joymoti, by Jyoti Prasad Agarwala. He was also a recognised film director.

The studio today

The film studio covers an area of 73 bigha.^[5] It is equipped with ultra modern floors, ultra modern trolley-volley-cum-crane, 16 mm movie camera, lights etc. Till now, more than 200 films have been released from it.

Courses offered

Now the institute offers some courses related to film and television are:^[2]

• Diploma in Audiography and Sound Engineering
• Diploma in Motion Picture Photography
• Diploma in Editing Motion Picture
• Certificate in Applied Acting

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See also

• Film and Television Institute of India
• Bhartendu Natya Academy
• Cinema of India
• Film and Television Institute of India alumni
• Film school
• Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute
• State Institute of Film and Television
• Government Film and Television Institute
• M.G.R. Government Film and Television Training Institute
• Biju Pattnaik Film and Television Institute of Odisha

References

External links

• Jyoti Chitraban Film and Television Institute