DD's Arun Prabha channel wants to boost film makers, content providers from Northeast

The Government wants more 'original contents' made by documentary film makers and other content providers from Northeastern states for the state-run Doordarshan’s dedicated Northeast channel, Arun Prabha, Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry said here. "The idea to have greater participation by the private film makers and content providers for Arun Prabha channel is to ensure increased contribution of contents from northeastern people themselves," an official source said here "We want to discourage a well practiced trend wherein applicants used to be from Northeast but the contents used to come from outside sources. This failed the very purpose of encouraging local content providers," the source said. The source denied that encouraging private participation will only ensure greater participation from Bollywood-based content providers. "At least 50 per cent of the content will be from documentary film makers and other content providers from Northeast," the source said.

According to the sources, the ministry has received an overwhelming response from production houses and so far received about 1100 proposals from across the country for creation of content. The proposals for the programmes have been sought under the commissioning mode. The Narendra Modi Government proposed to promote the new channel as a bridge between the Northeast region and rest of India. 'Arun Prabha' headquarters will be based in Arunachal Pradesh capital Itanagar. It is understood that the producers based in Northeast, and programmes based on themes related to the life and people of region -- known for distinct tribal dialects and religious practices are likely to be given preference, sources said. Among others, the Ministry sources said production houses based in Northeast including in places like Mizoram capital Aizawl, Agartala in Tripura, Kohima in Nagaland, Silchar and Guwahati in Assam have also submitted proposals for programmes under theme -- travelogue, drama, youth magazines and fictions.