Agartala, Mar 7 (Agency) The Cultural Affairs Minister of Tripura Sushanta Chowdhury held several rounds of meeting with the officials and faculties of Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute (SRFTI) in Kolkata to finalise the course and curriculum of the upcoming film institute here to be started from next academic session. Chowdhury accompanied by Director of Information and Cultural Affairs Ratan Biswas visited SRFTI campus and held detailed discussions with the Director and other officials of the institute seeking cooperation for running a film institute in Tripura including faculty exchange and infrastructure support.
“The SRFTI authority has welcomed our request and assured that a team will soon visit the proposed site for the institute in the annex building in Nazrul Kalakhetra campus where National School of Drama (NSD) has been operating. We are ready with the required fund and administrative approval for starting the institute even if it is initially a certificate course,” Chowdhury said. The state government has approved Rs 500 Cr for the start-up of a film institute, which will train the budding talents, who have been performing well on their digital platforms, he said, adding, “The proper training with theoretical backup for scriptwriting, animation, cinematography, acting, editing and the post production will offer employment to a wide range of people in the state.”
Despite the huge potential and scope in Tripura, the previous governments in the last 50 years did not do anything to develop the film and television industry, the minister noted. Assam and Manipur have been producing short films and international standard documentaries for the last few years. However, BJP led government in the state have attached importance to ‘Atmanirbhar’ initiatives in multi-phased development and supportive actions and film institute is one of them, he claimed to refer to the success of Sachin Dev Burman and the historical relationship of Tripura’s royal family with Rabindra Nath Tagore and Shantiniketan. A number of cultural talents have been running the roast of Bollywood industry, which this government wanted to channelize further.