CM: UP film policy attracting producers
Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday said his gover nment’s new film policy had changed the perception of filmmakers and now those who were afraid of coming to the state were bringing others, as well, to Uttar Pradesh.
Yadav said shooting for about 30 films was in progress and more films would be produced in the state in the coming days.
“My government’s endeavour would be to get Uttar Pradesh a distinct identity in the international arena,” said Yadav after launching a website of Film Bandhu, the body for single window clearance for filmmakers.
“Taj Mahal is in Uttar Pradesh. The Union government, however, does not accept this and only says Taj Mahal is in India. Although people from across the world visit Varanasi – they hardly know the ancient town is in Uttar Pradesh. UP has a rich and diverse culture
MY GOVERNMENT’S ENDEAVOUR WOULD BE TO GET UTTAR PRADESH A DISTINCT IDENTITY IN THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA
AKHILESH YADAV, chief minister
and India can’t move forward without UP and no film will be successful without being a hit UP,” said Yadav.
The CM said his government would extend full cooperation to UP filmmakers and then distributed subsidy cheques given under the state’s film policy to three films -- Jan Nisar (Rs 2.25 crore to Muzaffar Ali), Tewar (Rs 2 crore to Boney Kapoor) and Dojak -- in search of heaven (Rs 59.53 lakh to Pawan Tiwari).
Yadav also released a booklet – Film Policy Uttar Pradesh -- 2015. Two MoUs to set up two film cities at an estimated cost of ` 650 crore were also signed in the chief minister’s presence.
Principal secretary, information, Navneet Sehgal signed one MOU with Medhaj Productions and Ravi Kishan Productions to set up a film city under the Trans-Gang a Hi-tech City project, Kanpur. The other MoU was signed between Sehgal and Purple Seas Holdings to set up film city on Agra-Lucknow Expressway.
He said some films projected the rich culture of Lucknow and the state government was doing its best to clean Gomti and restore the glory of the monuments at different places. Yadav also lauded Japanese contribution to film technology sector and said he had not seen any parallel of the animated Ramayan made in Japan. Japanese parliamentarian Nagasaki Kotaro said the proposed film city would open new avenues of growth, adding that he was looking forward to the day when films made in UP’s film city would be shown in Japan’s theatres.
Muzaffar Ali said with the signing of the MoUs a dream had come true while Boney Kapoor said UP was among the first states to offer incentives for making films in the state. He said he was sure UP would also become a destination for south Indian films.
While actress Divya Dutta said the new film policy was attracting more producers to the state, Ravi Kishan said the setting up of the film city in UP would encourage more local talent too.