Jharkhand will get its film policy by April-end to boost film making, producing and shooting in the State. Addressing the concluding day of the centenary celebrations of Maharashtra Hitkari Mandal, an apex body of Marathi community, in Bistupur on Sunday Chief Minister Raghubar Das made the announcement.
He motivated Marathi community to foray into film making. He also announced a grant of up to Rs 2 crore for those who will be producing and shooting films in Jharkhand. Since India's Hindi film industry originated from Mumbai, Das asked Marathi community to start the tradition of filmmaking in Jharkhand with all Government support. This came after the announcement of developing a film city in Patratu in Jharkhand yesterday at Gopal Maidan.
"We want to promote Jharkhand as hub of film production. We have already identified a 200 acre land in Patratu where the proposed film city will come up. Our Hindi film industry originated in Mumbai and thus I want the Marathi community to take initiative in Jharkhand too. Jharkhand is not just about mineral resources but also scenic beauty which serves the best for shooting. The Government is all set to help filmmakers with a grant of up to Rs 2 crore in case they shoot 75 per cent of the films here," said Das while addressing the gathering at the Maharashtra Hitkari Mandal on the last day of their centenary celebrations.
Das added, "During my visit to Mumbai I have personally met Anupam Kher, Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar who have promised to visit Jharkhand and take steps to boost film making.
We will extend all kind of help for the development of art and culture." He also cited examples of Chhatrapati Shivaji, the great Maratha ruler and his strategy as a ruler and the glorious Maratha culture.
Saryu Roy, Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Jharkhand, Anand Sen, president, total quality management and steel business, Tata Steel and Bidyut Baran Mahato, Jamshedpur's Member of Parliament, also addressed the gathering. The speakers congratulated the members on their centenary celebrations. While Roy praised the quality of the Mandal's canteen and its food, Sen suggested the members to draw a plan and emphasise on the work to be done in the next 50 years.
The dignitaries of Maharashtra Hitkari Mandal's centenary celebrations also launched a souvenir and a book at the function.
Maharashtra Hitkari Mandal was officially constituted in 1916. Before the outfit was allotted an office on Q. Road in 1920, the Ganesh puja was organised at the house of one or the other of its members. later, the outfit shifted to its current location on K Road, where the puja is organised now.