Poised to reel
Y. SUNITA CHOWDHARY
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Telugu film industry is set to get a fillip with facilities extending to Visakhapatnam.
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Photo: M.A. Sriram
A HAPPY LOT Children cheering at a film festival
Hyderabad, which has almost become a permanent venue for hosting the International Children's Film Festival from 1995 and the venue for the first ever Asian Children's Film Festival in2002, will now allow the children have wider access coming from different societies of Asia. Visakhapatnam , which is fast becoming a hot place after Hyderabad, will shortly have a Film City of its own. "It's time to widen our area of activity, " says C. Parthasaradhi, special commissioner, Information Media and Public Relations Department (IMPR) and managing director, Andhra Pradesh State Film, TV and Theatre Development Corporation (APSFTTDC).He adds that the government had taken many initiatives and promotional measures and the Film Development Corporation (FDC) acts as a nodal agent for film development.
The APFDC began on October 10 1975 in Hyderabad with an objective of moving the entire film industry from Chennai to Hyderabad. It became the Andhra Pradesh State Film, TV and Theatre Development Corporation (APSFTTDCC) after taking theatre and televisionin its fold in 1998. Many studios, recording theatres and a housing colony for the film people were set up in Film Nagar. Land at low prices were given to the workers at Chitrapuri Colony and loans were extended to establish the basic needs and infrastructure of the industry.
Parthasaradhi says, "We have ear-marked 12 acres for housing for low paid workers in Jubilee hills. There is also a request for TV Nagar. International Children's Film Festival is being held every alternate year from 1995 and we have marked 10 acres in the same block. We also plan to have some regular commercial space for FDC and the viability is being worked out. Around 316 acres were identified near Bhimli town, a hilly area in Visakhapatnam to set up a film city and recently we've got a cabinet clearance."
Encouragement from the state
In an endeavour to encourage film production in the State, the government has announced subsidies. For this at least 70 per cent has to be shot in the State and under the single window system, the corporation has been given the right to give permissions for film shootings. Incentives like seven per cent entertainment tax concession for low budget films and 15 per cent for high budget films is being given. To get the concessions the FDC will have to issue a certificate. The corporation also has the responsibility of giving away the NOC's and licenses to theatres. The music industry has not shifted to Hyderabad as yet, though some studios have been established a lot more seniors are doing the recordings and re-recordings in Chennai. Even dancers and fight masters are still stationed in Chennai.
Parthasaradhi adds, "We also give Nandi Awards to film, TV and theatre artistes. Newsreels and documentaries are produced by us. Whenever a theatre license needs to be renewed, a NOC has to be issued by us. At that time there will be an MOU between the theatre and the Corporation and it becomes obligatory on the theatre to screen our newsreel and documentaries. Around 300 theatres have come into our fold after giving NOCs. Subsidies for children's films have also been announced and we are planning to set up a film institute too. NTR Awards will be announced soon."
Telugu Cinema has completed 75 years and Parthasaradhi hopes that that the Corporation which completed three decades of developmental activity in films will move ahead with renewed zest and vigour.
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