‘Haryana needs proper film policy’

Vijay Sabharwal

Over the years the regional film industry in various languages such as Tamil, Telgu, Bangla, Malayalam, Punjabi and Bhojpuri have matured and made a place for them at the national and international levels. But at the same time the Haryana film industry could not make a mark.

The government had constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Principal Secretary BS Kundu to frame a film policy.  Director General, Public Relations, Sameer Saroha, and Satish Kaushik, Rajiv Bhatia and Harish Kataria  from the film industry were its members. The committee submitted a report to the government over a year ago. Though the Chief Minister had announced that a policy would be put in place to promote films  in Haryanvi and Punjabi, the government is yet to take a decision.  Harish Kataria, who has been associated with the film industry, especially Haryanvi, for more than four decades, says Haryana needs a proper film policy. Excerpts from an interview.

What should be the focus of the government in the new film policy?

Haryana needs to take some innovative steps. The government needs to support the industry for at least five years. I am sure it can give a tough competition to any regional film industry. I firmly believe that incentives and support should be given to genuine film artistes and producers and it should be post-production of a film. The policy guidelines should be transparent and free from red tape.  

Do you think Haryanvi films can get audiences and screen space in theatres? 

The movies are classified from Grade A to C. Every Haryanvi movie costs between Rs 1 crore and Rs. 2.50 crore. One of the biggest problems producers encounter is getting theatres to release regional films. The government in its policy should make it mandatory for multi-screen and other theatres to have at least one show of regional movies or any other movie made in Haryana. The government should also buy the rights of the films to be screened on television after six months of their release. The government can fix a nominal price say about Rs. 5 lakh, Rs 10 lakh and Rs 15 lakh for Grade C, B and A films, respectively, for their screening rights for five years.

What should be done in the field of infrastructure for incentivising production of regional films?

The government needs to create a film city where all facilities of film making can be put at one place. Initially a studio may be built for renting. Small plots can be allotted to technicians at concessional rates, exclusively for constructing labs and other facilities. These technicians shall have a sound background of dubbing, editing, recordings etc. Such facilities can be great facilitators for encouraging film makers to come and make movies. Similarly, vacant land can be earmarked for renting for shooting of serials. 

What about tax incentives for film making?

Haryana can become the first state to accord the industry status to film making. This will enable producers and related technicians to avail of bank loans. Once the policy of screening through multi-screen theatres, TV channels and other theatres is confirmed and the government starts buying film rights and also financial support after the completion of a movie is announced, it will be easy to avail of loan for various activities of film making. The government may announce a 10-year tax holiday for film making in Haryana to attract movie makers to Haryana.

(The writer is a senior journalist based at Kurukshetra)