Veroli Zhimo
Nagaland –based Pooja Film Production released its new Nagamese film ‘Fight Back’ at the Tourist Lodge, Dimapur on Sunday. Helmed by filmmaker Ajay Kumar, the company has produced at least 105 other Nagamese movies since its inception in the early 1990s.
Along with Kumar, other independent filmmakers like Ghoshito Yeptho, Khamrang, Akash Atae Konyak, and Anok Pongener, among others have been credited as pioneers of the Naga film industry, which during its heyday, churned out 10-15 full length feature films every year.
Being independent filmmakers with very limited resources, most of the early filmmakers compromised heavily on quality in terms of filming equipment, film sets, and post-production. Those familiar with the Nagamese movies of the 90s and early 2000s would notice that the ones who were producing the movies would also take on the role of scriptwriters, actors, as well as marketing agents for their films.
Over three decades later, the general state of affairs in terms of support and recognition in Nagaland’s film industry relatively remains the same and the art form has, in many ways, been languishing.
The film industry can be seen as a very viable source of employment for the many talented people in the state as creating a film takes writing, story, photography, drawing, painting, concept art, animation, visual effects, music, acting, and a whole host of other talents, skills, and abilities from talented individuals.
Along with this, regional cinema has become very popular on over-the-top (OTT) media services like Netflix as more and more people have begun to diversify media consumption.
In recent times, there has been an emergence of young Naga filmmakers who are taking the art form to newer heights and putting out ‘national quality’ short features and documentaries that are being noticed by wider audiences outside the state.
In this context, it would augur well for departments like the Task Force for Music and Arts (TaFMA) and the state information and public relations (IPR) must look into how the state can capitalise on the renewed interest in the film industry.
Earlier in October 2021, state IPR Director Tokishe Sema had said that the Nagaland government is in the process of drafting the Nagaland film policy to set up the Nagaland state film development society/board. The society or the board will comprise several members, including film lovers, makers and directors, he said while speaking on the concluding day of the two-day free film acting workshop in Dimapur.
While there has not been any information on the progress of the draft film policy or the society/board in the public domain, the need of the hour is to expedite the process so that the Naga film industry can flourish.
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