The celluloid dream hasn’t quite become a reality for Jharkhand yet. Despite boundless scenic beauty, along with a multitude of cultures, arts and music, the state’s film industry continues to battle limited resources.
The local film industry was born in the early 1970s. The Shahdeos of Lohardaga, the Gangulys of Ranchi and Father van Winkle from Belgium set the ball rolling
Historically, Jharkhand has always been a lure, be it for legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray or Bollywood icon Prakash Jha. Several superhit Bengali films have been shot in the Topchanchi town and nearby areas, and McCluskieganj has been another favourite destination.
Some top stars have a domiciliary connection with Jharkhand. Legendary Bengali film actor Uttam Kumar had a house in Topchanchi. Bollywood heartthrob Meena Kumari too once owned a plot in Mohrabadi locality of Ranchi, while Meenakshi Seshadri was born and brought up in Sindri, Dhanbad.
The local film industry was born in the early 1970s. The Shahdeos of Lohardaga, the Gangulys who owned a movie theatre in Ranchi and Father van Winkle from Belgium set the ball rolling. They toured remote areas to capture the state’s natural flora and fauna, along with vignettes of rural life.
“Father van Winkle produced the first film in Jharkhand in 1970. In 1972, I began shooting small films with my celluloid reel camera. Now, neither are projectors available for screening them, nor is there any way for their conversion to DVDs that I know of,” says Sushil Ankan, Head of the Department of Digital Photography and Film Making at Marwari College in Ranchi.
In 1988, local artistes played key roles during the shooting of Aakrant, directed by Vinod Kumar. The film was mostly shot in the Rajadera area, near Netarhat.
Then came Sona kar Nagpur, the first Nagpuri language movie, released in 1994. It was followed by Sajna Anari and several others since.
“Local talent has now made its way to the Film and Television Institute of India and most of them are now working with reputed film producers and directors. A few local studios too are functioning steadily,” says documentary filmmaker Deepak Bara.
