UP film council gets Rs 69 lakh subsidy

LUCKNOW: The UP government’s efforts towards providing support for film-making in the state, seems to be finally bearing some fruit. The Bollywood producers, assembled here for the long-overdue meeting of UP Film Development Council (UPFDC), naturally look pleased with the efforts.
So much has been promised by the subsequent governments on ‘creating an atmosphere for film-making’, but the response from the Mumbai film industry so far has been generally lukewarm, mainly because of the implementation.But, now with the distribution of the ‘promised’ subsidy worth Rs 69 lakh on Tuesday by the government, the filmwallahs finally see some ray of hope. Twenty eight projects have also been cleared.
The main beneficiaries of the subsidy were noted actor-producer Raja Bundela and producer Shiv Kumar, who got Rs 20 lakh and Rs 10 lakh respectively. Bundela shot his Hindi film Pratha entirely in UP.
“Now that things have started moving in the positive direction, the film world would also react positively,� said producer Satish Khanna, who is a member of council. “This is the first time that something concrete has come out and it must send positive signal.� Now the film development council is working on projects to highlight possible film locations of the state. “Video films of the locations are being made. Then a concerted campaign would be launched to popularise these locations through exhibitions, shows and seminars,� Khanna informed.
The Film Development Council meeting, attended among others by chairman Shatrughan Sinha, Smita Thackeray, Yash Johar, KD Shourie, Satish Khanna and Raja Bundela, discussed the CD-video piracy, problem of finances and those of theatre owners.
“The main thrust was on the menace of piracy,� said Khanna. “A panel of exhibitors, government officials and people from the administration has been formed, which would carry out raids and government has promised immediate action. The license of any cable operator, showing pirated CDs would be cancelled.�