Jayesh urges policy overhaul to revive regional cinema in J&K

Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU, Apr 27: Prominent social activist Jayesh Gupta has voiced deep concern over the declining state of regional cinema in Jammu and Kashmir, urging the Government to take urgent measures to revive the struggling industry.Addressing a press conference, Gupta appealed to the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to initiate comprehensive reforms in the existing film policy.Highlighting the rich talent pool in J&K, Gupta lamented that a significant number of actors, producers, directors, and technicians have faced unemployment over the past decade.

He attributed the downturn to the lack of consistent support from the Government, distributors, and theater owners, despite the broad appeal of regional films.Gupta acknowledged that while several regional films have recently achieved critical acclaim at international film festivals, the substantial financial losses suffered by producers and directors have deterred further investment. These losses, he emphasized, have triggered a cascading effect, impacting not just creative heads but also supporting artists and technical staff.



Calling for immediate action, Gupta urged the J&K Government to convene all stakeholders to collaboratively revise the Union Territory’s film policy. He stressed the need for tangible relief measures for local film professionals and advocated for greater transparency in the subsidy allocation process, ensuring that local filmmakers can effectively access available support.Additionally, Gupta proposed that a certain number of slots in theaters be reserved for regional films to help producers recover their investments.

He also called for the establishment of a Duggar satellite channel dedicated to the Jammu division, suggesting it would create employment opportunities and contribute significantly to preserving the Dogri culture, which he warned is at risk of fading away.The post Jayesh urges policy overhaul to revive regional cinema in J&K appeared first on Daily Excelsior..