Ease of Doing Business (Film) in India | Kalpeshkumar L Gupta

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Ease of Doing Business (Film) in India
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Ease of Doing Business (Film) in India

Ease of Doing Business (Film) in India 
- Dr. Kalpeshkumar L Gupta

 

People call me a movie addict, I reply yes I am. It inspire me, I learn lot from it, get motivated positively. I also use many examples from movies in my classes/sessions. For last few months wanted to write something on Indian film industry. We all know that India is largest film industry in the world but lags behind in revenue compared to US and other countries. India produces close to 1500 to 2000 movies per year on an average. Half of the revenue comes from Hindi movies. Wrote few lines on Facebook but this time structured manner. Recently I read article in Baroda Times published by The Times of India regarding Uttarakhand being  go-to destination for Bollywood.

Recently Uttarakhand won award for Most Film-Friendly State Award in 66th National Film Awards out of 18 nominated states. Movies like Students of the Year 1 & 2, Shivay, Kedarnath, Dum Lagake Haisha are ones shot in last few years. The very reason behind this, state’s sound policy for making films in the state. Last year Madhya Pradesh won the said award. Criteria for awards are film-friendly infrastructure, offering incentives, maintaining database, undertaking marketing, and promotional initiatives. Uttarakhand has established Uttarakhand Film Development Council (UFDC) for facilitating the film industry in the state in the year 2016. UFDC comprises of 25 members from the film fraternity. UFDC will be headed by the Chief Minister, while filmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia of Paan Singh Tomar fame, who is from Dehradun, and actor Hemant Pandey, who is also from the state, will be its vice-chairman. As per official statement, in last 2.5 years, Council has given permission for over 230 shoots in the state. They have not refused not a single project. Earlier many agencies were involved for permission process but this provides a Single Window Clearance. Uttarakhand is so film-friendly because of hassle-free and quick permission process, subsidies upto Rs. 2 Cr. If 75% of the shooting is done in Uttarakhand. To shoot in the state, no fees to shoot in the state and of course scenic location. As per information available there are 15 states provides different kind of incentive for films. Some states are having sound policy like Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh. Jammu & Kasmir was India's Switzerland till the unrest and violence occured. In year 2013, J & K Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed invited filmmakers and promised them help for filming in the state. Sayeed offered a slew of facilities like no shooting fees, single window clerance, film equipment like generators, lights, track, trolleys and cranes, discount on hotel accommodation and helicopterservices. Have a look at Filming Incentives in India

States scattered policy was no effective ones for boosting Indian Film Industry. Looking at this Ministry of Tourism, Government of India has formed Film Facilitation Office (www.ffo.gov.in) under the aegis of National Film Development Corporation (www.nfdcindia.com) with a view to promote and facilitate film shootings in India. This is really welcoming step by the central government for boosting Indian film industry as well as states’s tourism. Now taxation benefit can be deliberated upon apart from waiver of entertainment tax. There are countries like France, Hungary, Georgia, Czech Republic, Mauritius, New York etc. who provides for Tax Rebate to film industry.


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Press Information Bureau 
Government of India
Ministry of Tourism
08-July-2019 16:58 IST
Film Facilitation Office has been set up by the Government for ease of filming in India: Shri Prahlad Singh Patel 

The Ministry of Tourism has recognised films as a powerful tool for the development and promotion of destinations under Niche Tourism Product. Several destinations have gained in terms of tourist inflow by being the venue/location of popular domestic and international films.
‘Film Tourism’ provides exposure and promotion to the filmed destinations, which thereby brings job creation, investment opportunities, and income generation contributing to the overall economic development of the area.

The Ministry of Tourism has taken following steps to promote Film Tourism in the country:

- Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in 2012, inter-alia, to promote Cinema of India as a sub-brand of ‘Incredible India’ at various International Film Festivals and markets abroad, to develop synergy between tourism and the film industry to provide a platform for enabling partnerships between the Indian and global film industry.
- Institution of a National Tourism Award in the category “Most Film Promotion Friendly State/UT” to encourage the State Governments and Union Territories to facilitate filming in their region;
- Formulated guidelines for extending Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to State Governments/Union Territory Administrations for promotion of Film Tourism.  As per these Guidelines, CFA of Rs. 2.00 Lakh per film is extended, to the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations during each financial year.

 

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India has informed that Film Facilitation Office (FFO) has been set up with a view to promote and facilitate film shootings in India. FFO acts as a Single Window facilitation point for ease of filming in India by assisting them to get requisite permission and disseminating information on shooting locations and facilities available with the Indian Film Industry for production and post- production. FFO has also launched its web-portal https://ffo.gov.in/en for this purpose.
 

This information was given by the Minister of State (I/C) of Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Tourism, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel in reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

References :- 
https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=191347
https://ffo.gov.in/en
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/Ukhand-gets-its-own-film-development-council-to-bring-filmmakers-to-shoot-in-the-hills/articleshow/53890529.cms#targetText=DEHRADUN%3A%20In%20order%20to%20encourage,Film%20Development%20Council%20(UFDC)https://www.ibef.org/blogs/indian-film-industry-to-reach-us-3-7-billion-by-2020
https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=178777
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/scenic-locations-easy-permits-uttarakhand-is-bollywoods-go-to-destination/articleshow/70703131.cms

https://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAssets/ey-building-brand-india-through-film-tourism/%24File/ey-building-brand-india-through-film-tourism.pdf