The Assamese film industry, affectionately known as Jollywood, has a rich history dating back to 1935 with the release of Joymoti by Jyoti Prasad Agarwala.

However, in recent years, Assamese films in particular, and the industry in general, have faced numerous challenges, with the scarcity of cinema halls being one of the most pressing issues.

According to statistics, the majority of Assamese films today either never get released or are limited to very small-scale distribution. Even the few Assamese films that have performed decently at the box office in recent years, do not paint a rosy picture.

Decline In Cinema Halls

There was a time when almost every major and small town in Assam had a cinema hall. Today, that number has dwindled significantly, with the state currently having only around 65 cinema halls—an inadequate figure compared to its population.

With the rise of multiplexes, single-screen theatres, which once thrived in the state, have become obsolete. This decline has severely limited opportunities for Assamese filmmakers to showcase their work, leading to a situation where many Assamese films struggle to reach audiences.

Government Initiatives And Their Impact

In 2020, the Assam government launched initiatives to revive old and closed cinema halls across the state by establishing new ones, a move aimed to boost Assamese films and the industry.

To support the construction of new cinema halls, the government announced a grant covering 25% of the total construction cost, with a maximum limit of Rs 75 lakh.

Additionally, Rs 25 lakh was allocated for the restoration of old halls and Rs 50 lakh for reopening closed halls.

These measures aimed to revitalise the film industry. However, even after five years, this scheme has had no significant long-term impact.

In fact, if we observe closely, we will notice that instead of reopening, cinema halls have closed down across the state during this period.

Advantage Assam 2.0 And The Overlooked Cinema Halls

The recent Advantage Assam 2.0 Investment and Infrastructure Summit 2025, held in Guwahati, showcased the state’s commitment to economic growth, with the Assam Cabinet approving investment proposals worth Rs 1.22 lakh crore.

However, the absence of investment in new cinema halls under Advantage Assam 2.0 is disappointing.

While the government has proposed the establishment of a film city, how will films be released if there are no cinema halls?

The idea of setting up a film city in Assam is in fact a positive and encouraging thought. However, the big question is- can a film industry survive in the absence of cinema halls?

To truly revitalise the Assamese film industry, there is an urgent need to attract investment for setting up new cinema halls in Assam.

If the government can bring in external investors and ensure the opening of at least a hundred small and large cinema halls across the state, it will undoubtedly boost the local-language film industry.

Once that happens, audiences will not be lacking to enjoy films produced in the film city. In short, the expansion of cinema halls is crucial to keeping the Assamese film industry alive.

If the government and investors prioritise the establishment of new cinema halls, only then will the Assamese film industry progress.

It would have been wiser for the government to include an initiative for setting up new cinema halls alongside the film city project in Advantage Assam 2.0.

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