His film withdrawn, director gets ULFA chief to warn halls

people whip up passions saying that Colombian pop star Shakira was visiting for the Bihu festival. Their aim is to collect money for repairing an embankment for which the villagers had earlier refused to contribute. After funds pour in, the organisers present Shakira Khatun, a woman who had lost her mental balance after her only son died in floods the previous year.

Chinmay Sharma, owner of Anuradha, one of Guwahati’s most prestigious theatres, said that he had offered only five days since January 20 to Das because his theatre was booked for Raaes and Hrithik Roshan-starrer Kaabil from Wednesday — Das had agreed, he claimed.

“We had bookings from January 25 for Raaes and Kaabil three months ago. When this filmmaker approached us, we told him he would get only five days from January 20, to which he had agreed. I had also promised to accommodate him later if his film drew crowds. He agreed to this, too. Now he is making an unnecessary issue,” said Sharma.

On Wednesday, a group of about 100 persons staged a dharna in front of Sharma’s 887-seat theatre.

Sharma said that contrary to Das’ claim, the Assamese movie did not draw much crowds. “Occupancy during those five days was around 22-23 per cent, which is not good. Compared to this film, two Assamese films that we screened earlier in the past two months — Rodor Chithi and Doordarshan Eti Jantra — saw 45-50 per cent occupancy,” he said.

Sharma said he did not approach police after Barua’s threat. “But the (ULFA) statement is out in the open. It is up to the police,” he said. Two other theatres in Guwahati — Vandana and Urvashi — ran Das’s movie till Thursday with less than 20-per-cent occupancy, sources said.

“We have seen the threat. No one has approached police or lodged a complaint or FIR. But we are keeping a tab on the matter,” said Hiren Chandra Nath, Police Commissioner, Guwahati.

Rajib Kumar Bora, secretary, All Assam Hall Owners’ Association, dismissed Das’s claims and said the movie faced “a very poor turnout across the state”. “While Anuradha theatre had committed only five days before Raaes, Das’s movie was not drawing crowds in other theatres, too. Even in Chhaygaon, from where the director had organised crowd-funding for the movie, only 62 viewers turned up on Tuesday,” claimed Bora.

Das, however, has received support from veteran actor, George Baker, who is also a Bjp-nominated MP in Rajya Sabha — Assam is ruled by a Bjp-led coalition. “I am told Das’s movie was doing well. Even otherwise, a Hindi film, which is collecting huge revenue all over the country, can afford to wait for a week to let an Assamese film run,” said Baker, an Assamese superstar of the 70s who has returned to local cinema after about three decades and is currently shooting in Tezpur.

Baker said the state government should draw up a “good” policy that would protect the interests of Assamese and other local-language films. “I am sure the director doesn’t have direct contact with Barua. But, if Barua is talking about protecting Assamese culture, I think he is right, minus the threat of course,” he said.