Single-window nod for foreign film makers likely

The Union information and broadcasting ministry has proposed the setting up of a single-window clearance system for foreign film producers who wish to use India as a base for cost-effective post-production work.

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Ravi Shankar Prasad, addressing a conference hosted by South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce on Sunday, said, "The I&B ministry proposes to sign agreements with at least 10 countries that would enable the post-production work to be sourced from India."

He said he would discuss the possibility of relaxing visa norms with the home ministry, to encourage foreign film producers to visit India for carrying out post-production work.

The ministry also proposes to put up a Web site that will provide market data on the demand for Indian films overseas.

"The proposed Web site will carry detailed information on the demand for Indian movies in foreign countries. Additionally, it will also have the complete addresses and telephone numbers of film distributors abroad," he said.

SIFCC presented a memorandum to the minister on the problems being faced by the film industry in the southern states. The memorandum contained an exhaustive list of problems faced by the film industry. It also suggested corrective action to pull the industry from its problems.

Presenting the memorandum to the minister, president of SIFCC Mohan Sharma said, "Almost 70 per cent the films made in India, originate from the four southern states. Yet, during the last few years, less than 10 per cent of the total slots in the Doordarshan was allocated to the south Indian films."

The 'step-motherly treatment' faced by the south Indian film industry from Prasar Bharati was just one among the eight prime issues presented in SIFCC's memorandum.

Video piracy, heavy entertainment tax, insertion of new reels made by Indian News Review in cinema halls, inadequate royalty paid by All India Radio for airing film songs, poor funding of films by banks and lack of transparency in the disbursement of labour welfare cess collected from the film industry also appeared in the memoranda.

Answering to the issue of the lack of funding support from banks and financial institutions, the minister asked the industry to take a look at the quality of films made in the country. "If only 10 out of 700 films become box-office successes, how can the industry expect any support from banks," questioned the minister.

Even while the minister promised to fight the issue of piracy, he prevailed upon on the industry to produce high quality films. "Good content will sell, despite piracy," said Prasad.