Jharkhand Cinema: A struggling industry with a need for its own voice, own superstar

Ranchi: Despite being a land of vibrant tribal cultures, unique languages, and powerful folk traditions, Jharkhand's film industry continues to remain on the sidelines of Indian cinema. According to artists and filmmakers, unlike the booming South Indian film industry or the Bollywood, the state's cinematic journey is still in its early stages, fighting for recognition, infrastructure, and support.

Industry professionals have highlighted several critical issues, including lack of state support, absence of a structured distribution network, minimal investment, and most importantly, the disconnection between creators and their target audience.

Nandlal Nayak, a renowned folk artist, musical composer, and film director, who has to his credit taking his film Dhumkuddiya to prestigious Cannes Film Festival, emphasizes the importance of authenticity. "Efforts are definitely being made here. Our people are delivering the maximum output possible, even with minimal resources. However, they do need fine-tuning. But in the process of being tuned, it's important they don't lose connection with their roots," he says. Nayak strongly advocates for originality over imitation, stating, "You can't present your work in Shah Rukh Khan's style. You have to find your own voice. Jharkhand doesn't need a copy of Shah Rukh; it needs its own Nayab Khan."

A major concern echoed throughout the industry is the cultural disconnect. While South Indian states support films in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam - each backed by state governments and a proud regional audience - Jharkhand lacks a similar ecosystem.

"We have 32 tribes here, each with its own language, but there's no single official cultural identity being promoted at the state level. We have original content in both music and cinema, but there's no system in place to take it to a global platform," Nayak further says.

The distribution challenge remains a significant hurdle. OTT platforms like Netflix or Amazon rarely consider regional languages such as Nagpuri, Kurukh, or Mundari unless backed by influential producers. Sriprakash, an Indian activist and independent filmmaker, shares his experience: "I made a film in 2008, but it took two years to get it released. At that time, there were monopolies controlling theatre distribution in Bihar and Jharkhand, and they didn't allow the film to be screened for two years."

Sanjay Kumar, owner of Runiya Prem Films Production, maintains an optimistic perspective: "In the film industry, it's talent and quality that matter, not connections. Whether one is creating a small indie film or a big-budget project, if the content is strong, audiences will naturally be drawn to it."

However, emerging artists like Sumit Kumar, a short film artist, express frustration about the limited opportunities. "Despite having creativity, originality, and dedication, we often find ourselves struggling to reach the right audience. The absence of structured support systems keeps our work in the shadows, limiting growth and recognition," he laments.

The situation calls for immediate attention from both government bodies and private stakeholders to develop a robust infrastructure that can nurture and promote Jharkhand's unique cinematic voice while preserving its rich cultural heritage.