I&B Ministry sets up Study Group headed by Prasoon Joshi to look into opportunities, challenges before Indian cinema
New Delhi, June 29
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw chaired a high-level meeting today with senior ministry officials and gave directions for immediate structural measures to bolster film production, distribution, and technological integration.
In a significant decision, the Ministry has set up a high-level Study Group, chaired by Prasar Bharati chairperson Prasoon Joshi, which will study the opportunities and challenges before Indian cinema. The Group will include industry experts and technology partners.
In another move, the Ministry has prepared model state cinema regulations for adoption by states.
"The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has taken two major decisions today. These steps will help Indian fil industry grow. They will also help increase the number of cinema screens across the country. The decisions have been taken in a high-level review meeting chaired by the Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw," a release said.
The Study Group, headed by Prasoon Joshi, will submit its report to the ministry in three weeks.
It will look into steps to make Indian films more competitive in world markets and the impact of new technologies on cinema. These include Artificial Intelligence and virtual production. The Group will suggest how Indian filmmakers can use these tools.
The Group will also examine how filmmakers can access institutional finance from the market and new funding options for film production and the problems filmmakers face in raising money for production and distribution.
The Group will look at working with State Governments and other stakeholders and identify best practices. It will also recommend a complete policy framework for the long-term growth of Indian cinema.
The Study Group will consult all relevant stakeholders across the country.
The release noted that regulation of cinemas and theatres are under the State list.
"Different states follow different rules for various permissions required for cinema and theatres. This has been a major roadblock to growth of cinema infrastructure especially in small towns and rural areas," it said.
To speed up cinema infrastructure, the Ministry has prepared a set of model rules. These rules were drafted after talking to all stakeholders. The Ministry has now sent these Model State Cinema Regulations to all State Governments and they have been requested to adopt the rules. The Ministry will also help States put these rules into practice, the release said.
"Together, these decisions will build a strong, modern and globally competitive Indian film industry. Indian cinema will continue to be a powerful medium for creativity, culture and innovation," it said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally! The government is looking at how AI and virtual production can help Indian cinema. Our VFX industry is world-class but we don't use it enough in our mainstream films. Also, access to institutional finance is a huge issue for indie filmmakers. If they can fix that, we'll see more diverse stories on screen. Great move by Ashwini Vaishnaw ji 👏
As someone who works in film distribution in Bangalore, I can tell you that the state regulation issue is a massive headache. Karnataka has different rules than Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra is yet another set of hoops. If the model regulations are sensible and states adopt them, it could be a game-changer for screen expansion. Three weeks is a tight timeline for the study group though – hope they don't rush it.
I'm cautiously optimistic. The idea of standardizing cinema regulations across states is long overdue. But let's be realistic – states guard their autonomy fiercely. Will the BJP-led states adopt it quickly? Hopefully yes. Non-BJP states might drag their feet. Also, what about the entertainment tax issue? That's another hurdle that needed addressing. Baby steps though... 😊
I'm a film student in Mumbai and this sounds promising. The part about accessing institutional finance is crucial – right now, most indie filmmakers rely on family savings or shady private investors. If banks and NBFCs start lending for film production with proper guidelines, it could professionalize the industry. Also glad they're consulting stakeholders across the country, not just Bollywood. Regional cinema needs equal focus.
K Kavya N I We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.