from Daijiworld's special correspondent

Panaji, Nov 27: With over half of 100-odd movie theatres closing down following ban on Hindi film release in Assam by ULFA, the Assamese movies are not getting the proper screening space, a leading Assamese director said.

"I have limited viewers left in Assam.. so now I intend to produce a bi-lingual movie," said leading Assamese director Suman Haripriya, who has given two commercially hit movies. Next recent release "Kadamtole Krishna Nache" is an entrant in International film festival of India, 2006 in Goa in the Indian mainstream section.

Haripriya said that post-ULFA's warning against Hindi film release in Assam, 56 out of 82 theatres were shut down. "This year only four to five films were produced in the state," she said adding,"Assam film finance corporation has financed hardly two films in last six years."

She said that Hindi movies are screened in the city theatres but they do not get any audience in the rural Assam following ban.

This leading lady director who has two commercially hit assamese movies - Koina Mor Dhunia (My Bride is Beautiful) and Kokadeutar Giltar Jowar - feels that her production Kadamtole Krishna Nache will transcend the Indian boundries.

"I am expecting the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) to help me to sell the movie abroad.... I also appeal media to help as it (the movie) depicts real cultural heritage of Assam," she said.

The movie is a dance-based musical film with a thrust on the major socio-cultural aspects of neo-vaishnavite religion propagated by Saint sri Shankardeva in Assam in the 15th century, Haripriya said.

The film is a big budget movie as it has eleven devotional songs, twelve dances and one drama, she stated.