Kuggi Maar Duaari now at KC cineplex

The Dogri feature film 'Kuggi Maar Duaari', which due to very good public response started third-week run at Swaran Theatre, here today, has further got a shot in the arm with grant of exemption from Entertainment Tax by the State Government.

In order to provide a better cinematic experience to the audience, the film is also being shown in Audi one of KC cineplex from today in afternoon and evening shows. Thus 'Kugi Maar Duaari', has earned the distinction of becoming the first ever Dogri film to run simultaneously in two cinema halls of the winter capital.

Talking to Excelsior, Neealm Phull, producer/director of the film said that the positive response of the audience of Jammu and Udhampur where the film is also showing at City Light Cinema Hall has proved that there is a great scope for making more of such social theme based films in our mother tongue.

He said, the story of the film in which a young talented musician from a village who has gone to the city to earn name and fame although becomes successful but driven by his filial duty towards his widow mother forsakes the glitter of money and glamour and returns back to his roots, has struck the cord with the audience and has been highly appreciated by the masses.

While thanking the State Government for granting exemption to the film from Entertainment Tax, he said that with reduced ticket price, now more and more people could watch the film and enjoy a story, which is set in the backdrop of Dogra culture and ethos.

Dogri film Kuggi Maar Duari

Kuggi Maar Duari, the second feature film in Dogri language, is all set to be released simultaneously in Jammu and Udhampur on December 16.

Talking to Excelsior, Neelam Phull, the producer, director of the film said that ‘Kuggi Maar Duari’ is the second big screen film in Dogri after the first film ‘Gallaan Hoyian Bitiaan’ that was made some 45 years ago.

He said that ‘Kuggi Maar Duari’, is a cinemascope film that has been granted by "U" certificate by the Regional office of the Censor Board Film Certification, New Delhi, and will be released simultaneously in two major cities. In Jammu it will be screened at Swarn Theatre and in City Light cinema in Udhampur.

The audio CD of the film’s music was launched by Raman Bhalla, Minister for Revenue, at Press Club, here today. The music of film has been composed by Surinder Singh Manhas and singers are Suraj Singh, Deepali Wattal, Julekha Fareed, Jeevan Sharma, Upma Sharma, Marina Jamwal and Surinder Singh Manhas.

Produced under the banner of Shree T Creations, excepting the film’s camera crew which was from Mumbai, all other members of the production team including writer, music director, art director, singers, dancers and actors are from Jammu.

The film is written by Basant Biyogi and lyrics are by Payasa Anjum.

In today’s CD release function, the chief guest, Raman Bhalla, praised the producer, director, for making a film in Dogri and giving a beautiful present to the people of Jammu. While appreciating the lyrical music of the film, he appealed to the Jammuites to watch this colorful and musical film and make it a success.

Tribals demand ban on Aarakshan

Objecting to screening of Parkash Jha’s movie “Aarkshan” in different theaters of Jammu and Kashmir, the Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation- main organisation of Scheduled Tribes, Gujjars and other marginalized groups today demanded immediate ban on showing film in the state.

“A team of our organisation who viewed the film today has decided to oppose the screening of controversial movie in sensitive state like J&K” said Dr. Javaid Rahi, Secretary of Tribal Foundation as some continents of movie 'hurt our souls, hearts and minds'.

In a statement issued to the press, Dr Rahi said that concept of reservation has not been properly projected in the film.

He further said that reservation is neither a charity nor an aid to weaker sections of societies.

“The concept of film was based on proportion of total population of a suppressed community fall under a particular category whereby a percentage of posts are reserved in admission, employment, promotion, Assem-blies and Parliament,” said Dr Rahi.

He further added that objective of the movie is to mitigate backwardness of the socially and educationally backward communities including Scheduled Castes and Tribes who do not have adequate representation in these services and institutions but this part is missing in the film.

ST/SC/OBC constitutes a substantial chunk of J&K’s population so government should respect our sentiments and ban screening of Aarakshan in the state.

He said since three Indian states have banned a new film on the controversial issue of reservation/ quotas for low-caste people, J&K Government should take action on priority.

The northern states of Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, and Andhra Pradesh banned the film due to fears it may cause law and order problems.

"Tribal Foundation demanded immediate ban as this is in public interest, taking into account certain objectionable dialogues and scenes that are against Dalits and suppressed classes," he said.

Meanwhile, filmmaker Prakash Jha on Friday moved the Supreme Court seeking its direction to lift the ban on Aarakshan.

Aarakshan is the film that explores caste-based quota system for the socially backward classes, in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh, after he was forced to drop some scenes deemed offensive to certain caste groups to ensure the film's smooth release elsewhere in the country.

The Censor Board with a U /A certificate cleared Aarakshan, but it ran into trouble soon after Jha released the film's first trailer.

It triggered off angry protests by caste groups apprehensive the film will portray them in a negative light because of certain scenes and dialogue in the controversial take on affirmative action.

The film stars Amitabh Bachchan as an idealistic schoolteacher, Saif Ali Khan as a Dalit teacher romancing Deepika Padukone, who plays Bachchan's daughter in the film.

Jha has also maintained that his film is balanced and shows reservation as a "Constitutional truth." About 160 million Indians or 16 per cent of the population are Dalits, according to the 2001 census.

"While the overall theme of the film is not objectionable, it is loaded with anti-Dalit and anti-reservation dialogues," PL Punia, the chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes told local media. "Aarakshan has failed.