Padma Bhushan Awardee Jahnu Barua, will direct the first ever American co-production film Unread Pages. Easterly Entertainment from Mumbai and Hollywood based Ivanhoe Pictures have joined hands to collaborate on this co-production.
This film is sure to give a major boost to the Assamese film industry.
Jahnu Barua has previously collaborated on various projects in Bollywood as well as overseas. Unread Pages is a poignant tale of a happy family that is torn apart. The protagonist who has been estranged from his land and culture, returns many years later from New York, only to finally reclaim his identity in Assam.
The film is expected to be completed over the next two years and will feature local Assamese as well as foreign actors.
The film will also receive full benefit of the new state tourism policy which will bear the cost up to Rs 1 crore provided it meets various criteria of the new policy implemented.
The Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC) has given special emphasis on the promotion of film tourism in the state through films based in Assam.
ATDC implemented the policy to attract more film projects and production units to Assam to showcase the state’s potential to greater audiences.
Speaking to the press, Barua said, “I am looking forward to the project. It will be a completely new experience for me. Filmmaking requires a tremendous amount of teamwork and to come together for a project like this is a great move for Assam as well.”
The film will be produced by Shanaab Alam representing Easterly Entertainment. He said “We have high hopes for the project; Ivanhoe Pictures instantly liked the project due to Jahnu Da’s powerful storyline. It only made sense as we moved forward with the project that since the story is primarily set in Assam, it should be shot in Assam as well.”
Speaking about the project further, the filmmaker said that 30 percent of the movie will have dialogues in English and will be shot in Upper Assam and Northern America.
Global Executive Vice President of Ivanhoe Pictures, Kilian Kerwin said the production house is looking forward to its maiden venture in Assam.