A delegation from the film industry met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Raj Bhavan here on Tuesday to discuss various issues and problems plaguing it.
According to an industry source, the delegation pitched for lower and uniform rates of GST for the entertainment industry. It is reported to have expressed strong support for the PM’s vision of making India a five trillion dollar economy in the near future.
It gave an overview of the vast growth potential of the media and entertainment industry in India and said the sector was poised to contribute in a significant way towards this goal.
It said the industry that churned out over 1,000 films a year was not just the biggest film industry in the world but also one of the most profitable in the country, contributing enormously to the national exchequer. It was pitched as a “soft power” with “global reach”. “Yet China has 60000 screens, while we have only a sixth of that figure,” said the source. The exhibition sector raised the issue of increasing the number of screens to improve the reach of films.
Another aspect that was touched upon was incentivising and professionalising the process of filming in India. The delegation called for the development of Mumbai as a global entertainment capital, through various initiatives and proactive approaches.
“Everyone was given an opportunity to voice concerns. It’s the first time a head of state has taken such a keen interest in the growth, progress and future of the film industry,” said the source, adding that it was a productive and positive meeting.
The Prime Minister reportedly assured the delegation that the Union Government would consider the suggestions positively.
“He acknowledged that our films are being recognised internationally and agreed that filmmakers are no less important than nation-builders,” said a source in a PTI report, adding that he assured the delegation that he will personally work towards setting up a special committee to look into the industry matters and address them urgently.
The delegation included heads of studios, leading producers like Ritesh Sidhwani, Karan Johar, Rakesh Roshan and Ronnie Screwvala, the president of the Producers Guild of India Siddharth Roy Kapur, the chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) Prasoon Joshi, and actor-producers Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgan.
