Filmmakers up in arms against Rock On 2

SHILLONG, JUNE 9: Local film-makers are up in arms against the state government and threatened to ban ‘Rock On!! 2’, an Indian rock musical film shot in Shillong, from entering Meghalaya to protest against the alleged biasness of the state government.

There has been growing resentment among the film makers from across the state following an RTI revelation that the state government had given Rs 2 crore as financial assistance for the making of the Bollywood movie.

The justification of the state government that the decision to provide such financial assistance to Rock On!! 2, was for “promotion of tourism” in the state failed to convince the local film makers.

“We will ban this movie from entering the state if the state government fails to provide a satisfactory answer within a month time,” said Simi Khongthiang, a renowned Jaintia film producer, in a press conference on Thursday.

Khongthiang, a member of the Meghalaya Film Makers’ Association (MFMA), said the decision to provide assistance to a film production house from outside the state is seen as biasness.

According to her, the reason for the protest is because of the fact that the government had so far never extended any assistance to promote the local film makers in the state.

Cutting her short, MFMA president Commander Shangpliang while not denying the sentiments of many on the issue, however said, “To ban the movie is just a personal opinion of the fellow member.”

The association members informed that they would soon sit to discuss on the steps to be taken against the government’s decision to support film-makers from outside the state.

Shangpliang said, “The government must come out with a clarification as to what are the advantages the state will get by extending such support since it is the public money that have been spent.”

When asked, the MFMA leader said, “Interestingly whenever we approach the excuse the government gives is  that there are no guidelines to extend assistance to film makers in the state.”

He admitted that the big question is what kind of guideline the state government adopted to extend the financial support to film makers from outside adding this shows lack of seriousness on part of government towards promoting local film makers.

Informing that the state government in a recent notification had recognized film making as an industry, Shangpliang however said, “But it is yet to come out with proper guidelines and policy till today.”

As per the notification, the condition for local film makers to be eligible for subsidy was the investment made for making a film should not be less than Rs 1 crore. Shangpliang  said the notification was published without any consultation while stressing the need to amend such notification.

He informed that it would be difficult for local film makers to meet the criteria since the film making in the state is in the ranges from 10 to 15 lakh.

The MFMA had in the past submitted several memorandums to the state government for addressing various issues concerning the film makers which include a film policy and a separate hall for screening Khasi-Jaintia movies.

Quoting the chief minister Mukul Sangma who had stated during a film festival held in the state that the government is contemplating to come up with a film policy, he said, “We urged the CM to ensure that his words are turn into action.”

The association has also taken cognizance on the Information and Public Relation minister AL Hek’s recent statement who had alleged that the local film makers have never approach him for any help.

On this, Shangpliang said that the minister was wrong because the association had held several meetings with him.-By Our Reporter