Jyoti Chitraban is gearing up to celebrate Golden Jubilee and Silpi Divas on January 17. For the second time this year, Silpi Divas and the anniversary of Jyoti Chitraban will be celebrated together.
As part of its Golden Jubilee celebrations, a painting competition and various cultural programmes will be organized with participants from all over Assam, including BTAD. Music artistes, Kula Baruah and Anima Borthakur will be felicitated with Silpi Botah.
Pabitra Margherita, Chairman of Jyoti Chitraban said on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Jyoti Chitraban, they will undertake archival work and also host three film festivals this year.
“The music archive has been transformed into a digital archive. Within ten days, we have been able to curate more than 1200 photographs which will be available in the digital format.” Pabitra Margherita said while addressing a press meet on Tuesday at Kahilipara, Guwahati. He added that a digitalized collection of invaluable photographs related to cinema, music and culture of Assam will be made available this year onwards. Joint Secretary of Department of Cultural Affairs, Monita Borgohain was also present during the press meet at Jyoti Chitraban.
Pabitra Margherita also noted that Jyoti Chitraban will organize an International Children’s Film Festival in the year ahead. Apart from screening films, the festival will also be a platform for international cultural exchange and a forum to discuss new careers for children. It will also facilitate the learning of the art of film-making.
Jyoti Chitraban will also host a Documentary Film Festival and the second edition of Guwahati International Film Festival. Moreover, Dr Bhupen Hazarika Film and Television Institute birthed by Jyoti Chitraban in 1999 will function independently from now on.
“Following the decision of CM Sarbananda Sonowal, we will carry out preservation work in a scientific manner and also venture into research in various cultural fields,” he added. He also highlighted that under the leadership of CM Sarbananda Sonowal and Hon’ble Minister Naba Kr Doley, the staff members of Jyoti Chitraban have been receiving regular salaries now and are upholding the ethic of work culture.
“This year we will also bring in modern technology and make it available at a discounted rate for artistic pursuits. For instance, we have the Arri Alexa camera which we will rent out on a day-to- day basis at around Rs. 12,000 which costs around 40,000 in other parts of the country,” Pabitra Margherita added.