The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Decision soon on housing for film workers: Jayalalithaa

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 10, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Decision soon on housing for film workers: Jayalalithaa

By Our Special Correspondent

Actor Rajnikant presenting a shawl to Chief Minister Jayalalithaa at a function organised by the film industry in Chennai on Monday. Looking on is actor Kamal Haasan. — Photo: V. Ganesan

CHENNAI, NOV. 9. The Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, yesterday said her Government would consider compassionately all demands put forth by the film industry.

Construction of tenements for film workers would be considered soon and a "good decision" arrived at.

There are more than 20,000 film workers in the city. The Chief Minister earlier allotted an 85-acre area at Pallikaranai.

But they were unable to construct houses there and FEFSI (Film Employees Federation of South India) representatives pleaded that the Housing Board or some other government agency take up the construction.

Actor Vijaykanth, who is president of the South India Film Artistes' Association, and producer, K. Balachander also voiced the demand.

Incentive for movies

Ms. Jayalalithaa announced a financial incentive of Rs. 5 lakhs for select low-budget Tamil films made in the State in 2000, 2001 and 2002. The grant was discontinued following a financial squeeze after she came to power, she said. From 2003 the grant was enhanced to Rs. 7 lakhs.

A piece of land would be granted to set up an office for the directors' association.

The Chief Minister, who sat through a six-hour show and meeting, also promised a piece of land to the Producers' Council.

Ms. Jayalalithaa thanked music director A.R. Rehman for making an exception and appearing on stage for the function. He does not participate in live shows during Ramzan.

The conquests

Almost all leading stars showered praises on the Chief Minister for having brought in a law to curb video piracy. Actors Rajnikant, Kamal Hassan, Vijay, Vikram, Vijaykanth, Satyaraj, Parthiban, Vadivelu, Y.G. Mahendran, S.Ve. Sekhar, S.S. Chandran (also an MP), Radha Ravi (MLA), Prabhu, Saroja Devi, Manorama and many others thanked Ms. Jayalalithaa for this and also for announcing a slew of concessions.

Almost all speakers praised the Chief Minister for conquering the three Vs — video piracy, Veerappan and Veeranam. The free movement of the forest bandit was a shame on the people of the country, but the Chief Minister brought his chapter to a close. The Veeranam project was considered unviable but Ms. Jayalalithaa showed in practice that the scheme could help the city.

`Don't give political colour'

Rajnikant, Kamal Hassan and Vijaykanth requested that their presence and praise of the Chief Minister be not given political colour.

"She has ensured the survival of the industry," Rajnikanth said and dwelt on what the deed meant to him and the industry. "This is not a show. This comes from the bottom of our hearts. "

Kamal Hassan wanted the memorial for Sivaji Ganesan built early. He also wanted a memorial constructed for Shanmugham Annachi.

Balachander said the industry should come together to ensure that pirated film CDs were not in circulation. He wanted all those connected with the industry to take a pledge not to watch movies on pirated CDs.

L. Suresh, secretary, South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce, said the Tamil film industry was now the object of envy of the industry in all other States because of the measures taken by the Chief Minister.

On behalf of the film industry, Balachander handed over to the Chief Minister a cheque for Rs. one crore and eight thousand towards the temple Annadhanam scheme.

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