A comprehensive law to regulate unfair practices in the Malayalam film industry is likely to be tabled before the Assembly soon, said Minister for Culture A.K. Balan. He said the Act would also pave the way for the formation of a regulatory authority.
“We hope to include in the proposed law the recommendations made by the Justice Hema Commission, appointed by the government to study the problems faced by women in Malayalam cinema industry, and that of the Adoor Gopalakrishnan committee report on how to improve the state of cinema in the State,” Mr. Balan told The Hindu .
Asked whether the government was facing pressure from trade bodies to withhold the promulgation of law, the Minister said there was no going back. “A time frame will be now fixed on when we can enact the law,” said Mr. Balan. The government is of the view that the time has to come to approach Malayalam cinema as an industry,” said Mr. Balan.
Kerala State Chalachitra Academy chairman Kamal said many recommendations in the Adoor Gopalakrishnan Committee report falling within the domain of the Academy had been implemented and that only the recommendation for a festival complex remains before the government. Recommendations related to the industry will have to be executed by the government in consultation with industry stakeholders.
Mr. Kamal cited legal and labour-related impediments when asked about the possibility of the Academy’s intervention to rein in the working of trade bodies or unhealthy practices in the industry. Any such intervention will need the proposed cinema regulatory authority being considered by the government, he observed.
Unlike other industries, cinema has a strong hierarchy among its various stakeholders and hence bringing about egalitarianism there remains a tough task.
“Giving a mandatory minimum screening space in theatres for independent movies needs a direct intervention of the government.” as even in government-run theatres films are now being screened strictly based on collection.
Conceding that the demand for a nominal screening fee for independent movies selected as part of its Touring Talkies programme, Mr. Kamal said the Academy didn’t have the financial wherewithal as the funds allotted barely met the expenses of screenings. If the government makes such an allocation, then the Academy is only too willing to comply since parallel cinema definitely needs to be encouraged, he said.
