Rajasthan Tourism Minister woos Mumbai film-makers for a film city

Rajasthan Tourism Minister woos Mumbai film-makers for a film city
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

MUMBAI, JULY 30: Rajasthan Minister for Tourism Bina Kak sought the cooperation of Mumbai film-makers for the setting up of a film-city in Jaipur at a luncheon meeting at Hotel Sun-N-Sand on Saturday.

She said the State would offer 100 per cent entertainment tax-exemption even if 50 per cent of the films were shot in the State and agreed to provide a one-window system for getting various department clearances of film-shootings in state-owned monuments by providing 50 per cent rebate in the existing rates.

The Minister said further that they also proposed to amend the Cinematograph Rules as they were outdated. Bina Kak said Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot was also keen on the project. As part of her Mumbai tour, she, alongwith her aides, had visited the Film-City in Mumbai and was scheduled to go to Hyderabad shortly to see the facilities provided in studios there.

While appreciating the role played by Hindi films in making Rajasthan a major tourist-spot, Kak said the film-industry would be given industry status as per the letter received from the Central Government. She sought suggestions not only for providing facilities required for the shoots which will be taken into account while deciding the policy on films.

While appreciating the Rajasthan Government's offer, film-maker Yash Chopra suggested that the film which showed Rajasthan in a better light should be entitled for an award from the State Government.

Film-maker Ramanand Sagar recalled, in his speech, the valuable cooperation which was extended to him by a Japanese nodal officer. The officer had even delayed the departure of a bullet-train to facilitate the film's shooting, he said adding that he never knew that even a minor official like the nodal officer had such overwhelming powers in Japan.

He said India would do well to emulate Japan's example in this respect. The maker of `Ramayana' also advocated the establishment of a film academy in Rajasthan to tap the talents of local artistes and film-makers there.

Shakti Samanta said heavy equipment including lights, cranes, reflectors and trollies should be made available at the local level in each State as it transportation of such heavy equipment caused problems to the film-makers.

He also wanted adequate security cover to control the crowd.

Amit Khanna drew attention to the problem of video and cable piracy saying the State Government should pay attention to this issue. Although stringent actions were provided in the Copyright Act, effective implementation was lacking, he pointed out. He also wanted the State Government to evolve a policy on multiplexes.

J P Dutta, who had shot his film Border in Rajasthan said he did have difficulties in shooting his films in Rajasthan monuments as they were now converted into hotels and they charged exorbitant rates for film-shootings on the basis of what they charge to foreign film units.

Rakesh Roshan said transport facilities, including helicopters, be made available through Government agencies at a reasonable rates.

Film-star-turned-politician Rajesh Khanna, who had campaigned for Bina Kak during her election, assured the film-producers that the minister meant every word she had said in her speech.