Assam Government had recently resolved to renovate the state’s cinema halls, both old and new.
In this regard, State chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal had asked the Assam State Film Finance Development Corporation (ASFFDC) chairman Jatin Bora to visit the theatres.
As part of this initiative, ASFFDC chairman, noted actor and filmmaker Jatin visited the historic Jonaki cinema hall in Tezpur last week.
He also interacted with the proprietor of the iconic theatre.
During the meeting, Jatin announced that Jonaki cinema hall will get ‘heritage’ tag in October next.
He also met Sonitpur deputy commissioner Narsing Pawar during his Tezpur visit.
According to reports, Jatin held a detailed discussion with the deputy commissioner at the later’s office.
During the course of the discussion, the duo talked about renovating the theatre.
The renovated Jonaki cinema hall is expected to be opened by chief minister Sonowal on October 3 next.
The state government has decided to sanction Rs 25 lakh each for renovation of old cinemas and Rs 50 lakh each for the new ones.
Jonaki was the first cinema hall to be set up in Assam.
It was established by Assam’s first filmmaker, Rupkonwar Jyoti Prasad Agarwala, in 1937.
When Agarwala made his first Assamese film, Joymoti, in 1935, the state did not have a regular cinema hall and he screened his film in a makeshift auditorium.
He developed Jonaki, which was an auditorium then into a regular cinema hall, in 1937.