Lights, camera, action!

The film industry is one of the best ways of promoting tourism in the world. Keeping this in mind, Madhya Pradesh Tourism is heavily pushing film tourism.

The Madhya Pradesh landscape is truly a gift for everyone who enjoys capturing the beauty of nature with a lens. Natural beauty, historic landmarks, local traditions, and ways of life are all a shutterbug's dream! Madhya Pradesh has given some of the most unique and marvellous filming settings, ranging from regular sites to scenery amid the majestic hills. The splendour of the state could not go unnoticed by cinema patrons as long as the 'heart of incredible India' offers an enormous backdrop to whatever the case is. Various Bollywood films, from Dilip Kumar's AAN (1952) to Bhumi Pednekar's Durgamati (2020), were all shot in MP. The state has now become a filming hotspot, with a large number of filmmakers flocking there to shoot their projects. Over 150 projects have been shot in the state to date, including Hollywood blockbusters, other feature films, TV series, TVCs, and reality shows. Maheshwar, located on the banks of the Narmada River, has become a popular stop for Indian filmmakers. The landscapes of Khajuraho and Sanchi, the jungles of Kanha and

Bandhavgarh, the forts and monuments of Gwalior, Maheshwar, Orchha, and Mandu, and the culture of Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, and Gwalior offer the most diverse filming experience in MP.

The film industry is one of the best ways of promoting tourism in the world. Keeping this in mind, MP Tourism has heavily pushed film tourism.

Following the execution of the Madhya Pradesh Film Tourism Policy, 2020, the government is encouraging film tourism by providing subsidies, all licences and clearances through a centralised online system. The availability of line producers, production facilities, local artists, and crew makes it cost-effective to shoot in MP's diverse and picturesque shooting sites. To promote film tourism, the MP government offers financial subsidies and incentives to filmmakers who shoot feature films, TV and web series, documentaries, among others. The state also offers land allocation under the tourism policy for various film production projects such as film cities, film studios, pre- and post-production centres, VFX centres, SDCs, film and training institutes, incubation centres, and other start-up projects to develop the state's film industry and infrastructure. There is also a provision for a subsidy for debut films, which would help start-ups and attract talent from all across the country to come and shoot in MP. Some of the policy's highlights include:

• Encouraging private investment to make MP an attraction for filmmakers

• Special grants for more screen time for site promotion in MP

• Special perks for internationally recognised and South Indian filmmakers

• Grants, and land allocation on permanent infrastructure

• Providing services in MPSTDC units at concessional rates

• A dedicated film facilitation centre

• Participating in various film-related events

• Development of housing and transport

• Making available to filmmakers infra and services owned by the government

• Renovating singlescreen cinemas, closed cinema houses, and upgrading existing cinema halls

• Scholarships to the students of the Film and Television Institute of India-Pune, Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute-Kolkata, National School of Drama-New Delhi, and other reputed institutions

• Special financial provision for the films securing special branding of MP