Gogoi gives arc shot of N-E

- CM invites filmmakers to explore region's diversity

MOHUA DAS

Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi and Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, along with filmmaker Yash Chopra and actor Prosenjit, light the inaugural lamp of Ficci Frames in Calcutta on Wednesday. Picture by Sanjoy Chattopadhyaya

Calcutta, Dec. 14: Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi today invited the media and entertainment industry to celebrate the diversity and richness of the Northeast as he worked out the economics associated with art and culture.

Gogoi, who attended the first Calcutta chapter of Media and Entertainment Business Conclave, organised by Ficci Frames in association with The Telegraph, as the guest of honour, said, "I'm very happy to be associated with Ficci. I don't know if I fit in because I'm a politician. I don't know much about art, music and films but I understand the economics associated with it. Art and culture are also economics according to me."

He said Assam had several communities with their own culture, tradition, food habits, attire and wedding customs, which was very interesting.

"There's a lot of scope. I've asked filmmakers to focus on that but nobody bothers. We have faced immense insurgency problems but art and culture can help change people's attitude. Negativity needs to be checked and we need the help of media to highlight positive developments. It's important for national integration," he said.

Pointing out that Taiwan, Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries were promoting trade and commerce through culture, Gogoi said, "Media and entertainment industry should celebrate the diversity and richness that lies in our region too. I'm very happy to invite all of you to come to the Northeast. Don't confine yourself to Calcutta only."

Gogoi was sharing the dais with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Bollywood filmmakers Yash Chopra and Ramesh Sippy, among others, at the Satyajit Ray auditorium in ICCR here.

Titled A New Dawn: Resurgence of the East, the daylong convention featuring filmmakers, producers, distributors, actors and investors was attended by Tollywood artistes apart from a gamut of film enthusiasts and young guns seeking direction in the Bengali film industry. Among those attended the event were Bollywood and Tollywood artistes like Randhir Kapoor, Suvaprasanna, Prosenjit and Aparna Sen.

As Gogoi spoke on the region's unexplored diversity that could be "highlighted in films for positive social harmony", Mamata took over.

"I don't believe talking too much can develop the industry. Vision and mission is my priority," she declared. "We have to see how to create the infrastructure and help the film industry. Northeast is big and isolated while Calcutta is like a pillar that can communicate with Bihar, Orissa, Jharkhand and the Northeast. If Calcutta is developed, these areas will automatically develop. I would like Ficci to call a meeting with the eastern and northeastern states to decide on a roadmap of how to go ahead."

Quick to chalk out an agenda, she showcased almost every corner of her state that could emerge as a London (Calcutta), Switzerland (Darjeeling and Dooars), Goa (Digha and Mandarmoni) and even an African Safari (Sunderban).

"We want to provide infrastructure facilities everywhere. We are going through a financial crunch but our heart is with you. I love the film industry and we will do our best," she signed off, asking Yashji to "guide and advise".

Earlier, in keeping with her track record of arriving before time for anything that would catapult her state into the "cultural capital of India", Mamata arrived almost 25 minutes before the scheduled time to inaugurate the convention on the business of entertainment supported by her government.

With Gogoi in tow and Chopra and Sippy leading the way, she strolled into the Satyajit Ray auditorium. Beaming with pride as she scanned the gathering teeming with Tolly and Bolly artistes, a young girl in the audience sparked her curiosity. "Kotha theke eshecho tumi (Where have you come from)?" she quizzed. "Oh Academy! Bah shob Academy'r chhele meyera esheche (Good, all the boys and girls of the Academy have come)" she smiled as she walked up to the dais.

When the audience burst into cheers, prodded by A.P. Parigi, Ficci adviser and moderator, to give a "thundering applause to the CM", he said, "She is the first person from the political class to let her guests be ushered in before her. She stepped back and asked Gogoi to do the same. Then pointing at Yash Chopra and Ramesh Sippy said, 'They are our guests. They should enter first'. We've seen many politicians but none like her."

Chopra echoed similar thoughts as he exclaimed, "I've never seen such etiquette in a chief minister in my whole life!" Chopra, who is the chairman of the Ficci Entertainment Committee, turned emotional and chose to "break away from protocol" and "speak from the heart" as he fondly recounted memories of an incident two years ago in Goa.

"I didn't know Mamataji too well then. I had spoken about some problems concerning the film industry and afterwards she dragged me away from the function and tried to understand the problem. She wrote a personal letter to the Prime Minister and saw to it that it was looked into. Later, when the railway budget was passed, she ensured special concession for poor people from the film industry travelling by train. This is our chief minister Mamata Banerjee," he said before addressing the importance of Ficci finding a place in the east.