Promises single window clearance system for filmmakers
MUMBAI: With a view to promote travel industry, Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, promised a hassle-free business environment to woo filmmakers for shooting their films in the picturesque locales of Kashmir valley.
He termed negative perception about travelling to Kashmir as one of the most difficult challenges confronting him but promised to overturn it with little help from Mumbais film fraternity, for whom Valleys scenic locales have been no less than a second home. Self-praise is no recommendation. Kashmir has been a centre of attraction for Bollywood filmmakers, who have been amazed by its incomparable beauty, he stated.
The Chief Minister said this in his terse speech while addressing glitterati of Mumbai film industry during the concluding function of 17th MAMI (Mumbai Academy of Moving Images) Film Festival, at Taj Lands End, here Thursday evening.
Top Bollywood personalities including Salman Khan, Kiran Rao, Saif Ali Khan, Vidya Balan, Anupama Chopra, Retaish Deshmukh, Nandita Das and Kali Koechlin were present on the occasion.
The Chief Minister, who holds the charge of Tourism department, also interacted with Salman Khan, who pledged to continue his tryst with Kashmir by coming to shoot each of his films. Kiran Rao, MAMI Chairperson and wife of Bollywood superstar, Amir Khan, who has never been to Kashmir, also promised to register her maiden visit.
Describing Kashmir as a place of fascinating charms that has cast its spell on people with creative and artistic inclination, Mufti Sayeed urged the bigwigs of Mumbai film world to play an active role in helping government tide over the negative perception about travelling to Kashmir. I extend my gratitude to Salman Khan and Shahrukh Khan for having chosen valley for shooting their films in the recent past, he said, while urging Bollywood to rediscover Valley through its lenses and become its brand ambassadors, just like in the Sixties when films like Kashmir Ki Kali were entirely shot in the valley.
Favouring more cultural exchanges, Mufti Sayeed said it should not be one-way traffic and extended an invitation from the people of J&K to give them an opportunity to extend its fabled hospitality to young filmmakers from all over the country.
Offering full support to the film industry in J&K, the Chief Minister promised a Single Window Clearance System to crews looking for exotic locales for shooting their films. He said he will also focus on back-end linkages like procurement of high-tech equipment and logistics to make it easier for big-banner production houses to travel to the valley. I hope we provide the right kind of environment to help you feel at home, he said amidst huge round of applause by the knowledgeable audience.
As many as 200 films from 58 countries of the world were screened during MAMI Festival, which was attended by no less than 7000 delegates.
CM interacts with MERC students invited to Mumbai
MUMBAI: Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, interacted with a group of 12 postgraduate students of Media Education Research Centre (MERC) of the University of Kashmir who have been specially invited to Mumbai for the 17th MAMI Film Festival.
Noted filmmaker and son of the soil, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, had extended the invitation to the students.
Advisor to the Chief Minister, Prof. Amitabh Mattoo, renowned filmmaker, Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Secretary Tourism, Farooq A. Shah were also present on the occasion.
Praising Vidhu Vinod Chopra for redefining the art of filmmaking, Mufti Sayeed said the Mumbai visit will be baptism by fire for these young students who want to venture into the world of creative cinema. Vinod is our proud son whose films have always made a statement and left an indelible mark on the filmgoers, he said, while asking MERC students to seek inspiration from the movie maestro.
Asking the students to give wings to their dreams by mastering the art of filmmaking, the Chief Minister said he is determined to promote art and culture in a big way in the state. We are activating JKAACL (J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages) by organizing various functions at the state-level. During my recent visit to Tagore Hall at Srinagar, I also announced setting up of a School of Sufiyana & Folk Music, he added.
Responding to a series of questions, Mufti Sayeed said he is striving to build right atmosphere in Kashmir by focusing on its core strengths. He said his trip to Mumbai was successful in garnering support for promoting investment in industry, power, telecommunications and the tourism sectors.
During his visit, the Chief Minister also met several business tycoons including Anil Ambani of ADAG, Dr. Subash Chandra of Zee Media and Nikhil Meswani of Reliance India Limited.
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