‘Hassle free permissions, subsidy for film makers’
*New Film Policy 2024 launched
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Aug 1: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today said that the administration is making all efforts to provide better facilities than the European countries to the film-makers so that Jammu and Kashmir gets its due place in the global film destinations.
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The LG while addressing the gathering of famous Bollywood Directors, artists, short filmmakers and film lovers at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre on the banks of Dal Lake here, on the occasion of J&K Film Conclave said that the administration is making efforts to provide better facilities than the European countries to the film-makers so that in future, J&K gets its due place in the global film destinations.
“You cannot separate J&K from cinema. Whenever there is a discussion on cinema in our country, J&K is a part of that discussion. This is an organic relationship which has grown year after year,” he said.
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The LG said cinema and J&K, like other relationships, have witnessed their share of ups and downs and bore the brunt of terror for many decades.
“Those connected with this art form will understand that J&K was not just a shooting destination, but a cultural organism for famous filmmakers like Raj Kapoor and Yash Chopra. So, attempts have been made in the last five years to revive that relationship. Many initiatives were taken for that,” he added.
He said that the administration is following a model to build film-shooting infrastructure on the lines of European countries so that J&K becomes a global film destination soon.
“In the last five years, we have succeeded in reviving the Cinema culture in J&K. We had rolled a film policy in 2021, but there were some gaps and loopholes. Today, we have launched New Film Policy 2024 where all previous gaps have been filled. The new policy entails Single window cell that will make the film shooting easier for directors and producers interested in shooting in J&K. There will be ease in giving permissions for shooting and also hiring local talent as well,” the LG said. “Efforts are afoot to provide a compact film eco-system to film shooting lovers, directors and producers.”
He said that there are subsidy grants for filmmakers in the new policy for both veterans and new filmmakers.
“This will help give a better platform, there were some gaps and road blocks in previous policy, in the new policy, issues taken care of. Single window Cell given more powers like giving shooting permission in a hassle free manner, subsidy grants for filmmakers made further attractive, old and new filmmakers”.
Sinha said that the road connectivity to the locations is much better today and the J&K administration is committed to fulfil the dreams of every single youth of the place.
Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar, who also attended the conclave said the tourism department should encourage filmmakers to “explore more locations, which we have not seen yet.
The “Fashion” director said the policy and the conclave by Sinha would send a message to the film industry to come back and explore the Union Territory.
“The film policy brought by the LG is very good. It will send a positive message to the film industry. I always say that the film industry is not limited to Mumbai now, the south industry has become very important, they have contributed a lot. Films not only in the country, but across the world, connect people not just through songs or music or costumes, but everything else,” he said.
The filmmaker said he has been visiting Jammu and Kashmir for the last two decades and has many friends there.
“I have many friends here, I love the food and the locations. I feel happy whenever I come here,” he said, adding cinema as a medium brings everyone together.
Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary; Rehana Batul, Secretary, Information; Jatin Kishore, Director Information, senior officials, winners and participants of the Short Film-Making Competition, industry professionals and cinema enthusiasts were present on the occasion.
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