It was a landmark event for the cultural scenario of the State as well as the north-eastern region when the Jyoti Chitraban Film & Television Institute (JCFTI) was inaugurated on January 17, 1999, as a tribute to Rupkonwar Jyoti Prasad Agarwala, the father-figure of Assamese films who produced and directed the first-ever Assamese feature film way back in 1935 which incidentally was also the first-ever movie produced in the region. As the region has been devoid of any such institution prior to the JCFTI, the Jyoti Chitraban Film Studio (Society) authorities felt that it was high time such an institution was established here so that the region’s youngsters were offered an opportunity for building up of a strong foundation for a career in films and television, the emerging trends of the modern-day age.
The institute conducts three years diploma courses in Audiography and Sound Engineering, Motion Picture Photography and Film and Video Editing along with a one-year certificate course in Applied Acting (Film and TV). While for the first two diploma courses, minimum qualification required is HSSLC with pure sciences for the other two 10+2 in any discipline is needed. The diploma courses have 11 seats each four for Assam and one each for the seven States of the North East including Sikkim.
Till date. JCFTI has been doing its level best to maintain a high standard for quality education and training as well as a coordinator for the film and television activities of the region as a whole. With its balanced teaching in theoretical, practical and laboratory works those graduating from here have received positive responses for the industry with most of them being comfortably absorbed in their respective fields already.
Incidentally, the genesis of the institute was first planted way back in 1981 though it could materialize after almost two decades. Another positive aspect of the JCFTI is that its courses are duly approved by the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) which speaks about their recognition. Students are admitted strictly on the basis of a selection test, which is conducted by the State Directorate of Technical Education (DTE). The Institute boasts of a resourceful library with film prints and videos of good movies from all over the world so as to allow the students an opportunity for seeing good quality works. Also, with the institute’s membership of the National Film Archives of India classics are borrowed form time to time for screening here.
Besides, the Jyoti Chitraban Film Studio (Society) came into being on the January 17 (day of birth of the Rupkonwar), 1968, when it was formally inaugurated by then Chief Minister of Assam, Bimala Prasad Chaliha, though the site was earmarked for the purpose way back in 1961 itself. Interestingly enough, till 1972 the studio was run by the State Education Department directly with technicians leased from outside the State and it was only in 1973 that it was converted into a registered society for all practical purposes. Keeping up the stride of things a full-fledged video unit was set up in 1995.
However, till 1996 there was no marked development in the fortunes of the studio. But following a special assistance from the Union Government under the Clause-VI of the Assam Accord a generous grant of about nine crore rupees was released to the studio which proved to be a major boon for it and the fund helped in turning around its fortunes. Plans are also afoot for developing the entire JCFTI complex into a mini film city in near future.
According to the nodal officer of the institute, with this amount of money several major construction projects were taken up like an RCC recording studio, online TV studio, editing block, provision of concrete walls all over the 24 acres of land belonging to the studio complex, latest state-of-the-art camera units, total overhauling of existing studios, equipments among others.
The studio management has already submitted another comprehensive plan for various works in the next phase of the schemes and things are looking towards a better horizon. Today, the JCFS has an array of state-of-the-art most sophisticated equipments like Arriflex camera, cold storage for films, BARCO video production with large screen, non-linear edit suit, mackie 32/24 mixing console, westrex recorder among other which are adequate enough for producing a full-length feature film as well as video films.
Significantly, after years of lull, since about the last half a decade the film studio the mainstay of the institute has been reverberating with a lot of activities with studios, halls and equipments remaining booked for months together which is definitely a positive sign for all with promises for a lot more to come in the days to come. The sound recording studio is always busy actively earning precious revenue of the studio making it almost self-sufficient.
According to the Institute sources, if the next proposal is approved the studio would become more sophisticated and be able to cater to all the eight States of the region adequately.