The Hindu : Front Page : Cinematography Act to be amended

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Tuesday, Mar 11, 2008
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Cinematography Act to be amended

Ramya Kannan

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government is engaged in an exercise to revise the rules of the Cinematograph Act to make provisions for the changing demands of modern cinematography not accommodated by the 1955 Act. Among the issues that the revision seeks to address are adherence to safety norms and building codes with regard to cinemas.

Describing the Act as “fairly old,” a government order from the Home department says it does not have adequate provisions to deal with modern-day advancement in cinematography.

The government had appointed a committee under the chairmanship of the Special Commissioner, Land Administration, with three sub committees constituted to look at three key areas: buildings, procedures and consumers.

The committees have been given the mandate to simplify procedures made by the licensing authorities, make suggestions and recommendations for open air theatres (single theatres and complexes), multiplexes and to adapt the National Building Code for these complexes. The members of the committees included top film industry personalities, including director K.Balachander, Abirami Ramanathan, and Censor Board Regional Officer Babu Rammasami.

The three sub committees were given a period of six months to draw up suggestions and they submitted their list of recommendations to the government.

These have been forwarded to a final draft committee. According to a government source, suggestions have come not only on the quality of the screen, digital projection and sound systems, but also on designating fire escape routes, conducting mock drills, security and seating arrangements, providing for the disabled, parking, fogging to control mosquitoes, waste disposal and general cleanliness.

Chairman of the Committee and Special Commissioner, Land Administration, Rameshram Mishra says the process of drafting the final recommendations has started.

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