Likewise, here in India, every State has something or the other some uniqueness to showcase to rest of the world.
Kerala capitalised its back water.
Karnataka capitalised its forest.
Rajasthan capitalised
its desert, Havelis and forts so beautifully for the entire world that it grosses a substantial earning every year from foreigners and natives as well because it exhibited its belongings through films which by default present it glamorously.
Southern India's film industry has very well established themselves with their own identity and skills.
Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, kerala and Karnataka all have their strong self sufficient and reliant film industry with their own ethnic and universal appeal contributing immensely to their respective economies.
Rajasthan is most in demand from Bollywood as well as from International film makers because of its geographical and cultural characteristics which includes their unique lifestyle, costume, customs, cuisine, camels, kalbelias, infrastructural facilities and logistics apart from superbly preserved over all culture, legacy and heritage capable of taking audiences to 100s of years back to the old eras and Royalties.
Gujrat another state widely popular amongst themselves catering to their colour filled films very much like Punjab connecting to their migrant population abroad too.
Hence, they often shoot abroad to incorporate their homesick migrant population.
Neighbouring state Orissa also recently came up with their own film body for the promotion and development.
Uttar Pradesh now with its new mega announcement of making a full fledged Film Industry already allocated 1000 acre of landbank spearheading undoubtedly the band because of its shooting friendly ecosystem, upto 5 crore financial assistance through their film development body called 'Bandhu' and many of its own unique historical, social and religious lineages.
Through out the year most of the big production houses of Bollywood keep shooting there.
In last 2 years I shot there 6 times and every time I found out that minimum 5 feature films are being shot there at any given point in time.
I enquired to my surprise that Catering, travel, Junior artist suppliers, tailors, artisans, carpainters and local talents etc. don't need to go out for other works for their survival, means through out the year they are engaged in local film industry only wowwwwww.
Himachal is ready with its own draft of film development body and financial assistance, ready to launch anytime soon.
Madhya Pradesh again another shooting friendly state to boast for, captured Prakash Jha's repertoire completely since last many films of him.
Maharashtra traditionally has its own cultural fibre intact since ages.
Even though very less financial aid, but yes, a substantial institutional assistance in release, It produces thought provoking and socially relevant films many in numbers.
Assam has its own culturally rich films arena even though very less financial assistance from the state.
Bengal has always been leader and torch bearer when it comes to regional cinema industry.
Goa, an international tourist hot spot is well structured and placed to exploit its multi national crowd in soothing beaches to have a distinct culture to boast for in several film scenes we all have seen.
Haryana started their institutional body for film facilities under the chairmanship of Satish Kaushik.
Entire North East which includes seven sisters states are yet to be explored.
Actually its a long list of self reliant regional film centres/industries which has relentlessly aided to their respective states to gain economic momentum and self respect to not only honour their organic talents but to retain them as well - an ideal story for any cultured and self reliant society.
Our federal Government has many schemes to compliment and facilitate the regional film industries.
It confers 'Best Award' if the jury find so, in almost all the categories of regional cinema apart from Hindi, to promote and acknowledge their immense and unique contributions to the collective national identity of our cinema for the world to look for, every year.
Currently, its so rejuvenating to see Jharkhand in a peppy state of shooting all over the state something or the other because of cheap cameras, equipments, free release in YouTube/ FB/Insta etc... and instant publicity just to please oneself.
Film making schools, acting institutes, mass media and journalism departments etc have certainly fuelled it.
But we need to keep off from only shooting frivolous music videos that too, mostly, trying to copy cheap Bollywood/ Southern songs with funny moves, costumes and looks which they are not, and at the sheer cost of content.
Cheap, shortcut and instant popularity is the killer trap specially for young aspirants as is rampant these days all over places, one could check.
Actor Govinda's "Sarkaay lo khatia" and Jitendra's "Tohfa Tohfas" are done long ago in 90s only but its pathetic and scary to see its ghosts still hovering in music videos being made even now in Jharkhand.
Our own musical heritage and legacy is anytime far superior than these these cheap ones.
Save us almighty....
Coming back to Jharkhand, it has a huge potential to showcase its anthropological heritage....our own TRIBAL CULTURE...
World want to see them in today's context unlike many western countries showing them from Australia or Amazon doing hu huhuhahahah... lalalalala, scantily clothed, women with open chest, men almost nude, face multi coloured and with their traditional spears, making a kind of spectacle as if they are some ancient creatures from the zoo.
Where as our TRIBAL has a traditional yet modern concoction of harmony in the prevalent socio, cultural and political milieu since ages, though, barring few which can be discussed through different angles at some other time and place.
As a whole, Tribals of Jharkhand still have prevalent ancient ecological system -
An institution in itself has enough material to teach this to over advanced or culturally uprooted world, through their ultra simple yet beautiful organic, social, cultural and minimalistic approach to life.
Tribal's intrinsic nature is imbibed so deep in their day to day life to coordinate with the ecology around that they are quite comfortable without the zigmos of modern world and yet they live happily, rather happier than their modern counterpart.
The thing, which people across the world now are in search of....
Means there already is an international market ready to quell their thirst from such organic cinema coming from this heartland of Jharkhand.
Late vice chancellor of Ranchi University Dr.Ramdayal Munda himself belonged to this and had envisaged the same idea.
Another vital point to be paid attention to is, that we need to retain and bring back our technical and non technical talents from Bollywood at this turbulent time of Political, Professional and Pandemic atmosphere.
Financiers, Producers, writers, directors, production guys, technical experts, light boys, spot boys, designers etc all sort of people from Jharkhand learnt their respective jobs, are well experienced and have been working in Mumbai film Industry since many years.
Given the chance they would love to, and would feel more safe and secured to work in their home state closer to their family and loved ones.
After working as an actor recently in 3 feature films in Ranchi namely -
1.'Ajab Singh ki Ghajab kahani' (released)
2.'Dhumkkudiya' (circulating in film festivals all around the world)
3.Ek Ank (ready to release)
I have realised, Ranchi has more or less all the ingredients and potentials a full-fledged Film Industry needs to flourish:
1.Talents
2.Infrastructure -
A. Technical and
B. Non technical
3.Logistics
4.Economics (this most vital element needs an elaborate discussion and comprehension to understand it)
The writer is born, brought up and has graduated from Ranchi. He is a Post Graduate from National School of Drama New Delhi in Acting (88-91). He cleared NET (UGC) for fellowship for PhD and lecturer ship in Performing Arts in 1991 and has secured Honorary Doctorate in performing arts. He is a Member - film development council of Jharkhand government and is currently practicing as a full time actor in Mumbai since last 26 years. The views expressed in the article are his own.