GUWAHATI: Assamese films are increasingly coming under the threat of Bollywood blockbusters eating into their audience space. In the last few months, two local films had to be taken off theatres to accommodate big-budget Bollywood films.
The sequel to the Assamese cult film, 'Local Kung Fu' (LKF), which was doing good business at the box office after its release on April 19, is going to be taken off theatres to make way for southern blockbuster, 'Bahubali 2', set to release on Friday.
Earlier, Assamese film, 'Shakira Aahibo Bakul Tolor Bihuloi', faced a similar fate when its screening was halted to accommodate
Shah Rukh Khan's 'Raees' and Hrithik Roshan-starrer 'Kaabil' in January this year.
Director Kenny Basumatary alleged that despite the film running to packed houses, theatre owners are discontinuing the screening.
"We faced a lot of difficulties in getting a Wednesday release. While some theatres in Assam supported us, most refused to have more shows. We are now sad to learn that our film will be discontinued. Is this the way cinema hall owners treat local films? I am shocked," said Basumatary, who played an important role in the film.
'LKF 2' opened to a positive response across the state. Based on
William Shakespeare
's 'Comedy of Errors', the film drew regular audience with a chunk of the tickets being booked online.
"Shows at PVR Guwahati, Inox Jorhat, Anuradha Guwahati and various other places in Assam were booked to over 80% capacity online and the rest of the seats were filled up through counter sales," added Basumatary. In one week, 'LKF2' managed to collect about Rs 6.5 lakh from 43 halls across the state.
State finance minister
Himanta Biswa Sarma had announced a 50% entertainment tax exemption in the budget last year for cinema halls and multiplexes to encourage exhibition of local films.
In January, Himagshu Prasad Das, who made 'Shakira Aahibo...', had sought ULFA chief Paresh Baruah's help to run his film.
Popular Assamese actor Ravi Sharma has also voiced his support for 'LKF2'.
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