Jyoti Chitraban Film and Television Institute - History

History

Jyoti Prasad Agarwala, after Joymoti, started working on Indramalati. To produce the film he made a temporary film studio named Chitraban at Bholaguri Tea Estate. After his death famous Assamese singer Bhupen Hazarika with the support of noted singer, dancer, writer and social reformer Bishnuprasad Rabha, demanded the Government of Assam to establish a film studio in Guwahati and also demanded to name it in the memory of Jyoti Prasad Agarwala. In response to the demand, the government in 1961 established the Jyoti Chitraban. It was the beginning of a new era in Assamese Film Industry. In the year of 1999 it was renamed as Jyoti Chitraban Film and Television Institute. This is the only film and television institute in entire North-east India.

Bishnuprasad Rabha was also recognized as a film director, music composer (Siraj) and actor (Era Bator Sur. He was an actor par excellence. His acting expertise was witnessed by Ban Theatre of Tezpur. But, he never used this talent for commercial purpose. In spite of having very good rapport with the art world of Kolkata and Bombay, he never left Assam to achieve commercial success in the field of acting. Rather he used his talent to educate the masses. This talent also helped him to move around in disguise during his days of struggle. He also assisted in making of the first Assamese film Joymoti, by Jyoti Prasad Aggarwala. He was also a recognised film director.