 "A Carnival for the masses")
From the scanty and uncharitable portrayal of Uttar Pradesh on the silver screen, UP has slowly graduated to attracting the Bollywood dream merchants to shoot their films in the state.
Over the last couple of years, the state government has consistently been working towards projecting UP as an ideal destination for filmmaking and shooting and it has undoubtedly tasted success.
The incumbent Akhilesh Yadav government has deployed a multi-pronged strategy to woo filmmakers. While it has announced a new Film Policy that promises sops to films shot in the state, the government has been liberal in exempting Hindi films from Entertainment Tax (ET) to cosy up to the film fraternity.
UP Film Bandhu has so far received 150 proposals for film shoots and subsidy. Since the Film Bandhu has been constituted, 25 films have already been allowed subsidy.
Since March 2012, when Yadav became the chief minister, the government had declared at least 30 films as tax free in the state, including Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Dedh Ishqiya, 'Jai Ho', 'Ya Rab', 'Bhoothnath Returns', 'Mardaani', 'Mary Kom', 'Katiyabaaz', PK, Tevar, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Masaan, Drishyam, 'Manjhi, Bajirao Mastani, Airlift etc.
Several screen capers including Arjun Kapoor and Parineeti Chopra starrer Ishaqzaade, Arjun Kapoor starrer Tevar, Saif Ali Khan starrer Bullet Raja and Ishqiya have been shot in UP.
Currently, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan's upcoming film Sultan is being shot in western UP.
Acknowledging the strides made by the state in filmmaking, UP was feted with a 'Special Mention Certificate' under the ‘Most Film Friendly State Award' by President Pranab Mukherjee at the 63rd National Awards ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on May 3.
UP Film Bandhu chairman and information principal secretary Navneet Sehgal said the award recognised the state for implementing a single-window policy, providing facilities for production/post-production, subsidy, dedicated portal for grant of permission for film production, creating a database for crew/filmmakers/film talent and providers of film shooting equipment.
Besides, the government is creating a database of film locations, historical buildings, hotels and ensuring availability of ambulance, air-lifting and emergency services to position UP as a film destination at the international level.
Currently, the state offers a maximum subsidy of Rs 3.75 crore for shooting a film in the state.
For young artists, a scholarship has been arranged at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, and Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata.
A ‘film promotion and facilitation committee' has been formed in all the districts under the chairmanship of the respective district magistrates. The committee, after receiving the proposal for shooting, reviews the security of the film unit, permission for shooting, provides accommodation at government guest houses/tourist bungalows and eases roadblocks for hassle-free shooting experience.
Meanwhile, the state government had recently showcased UP as an attractive destination for international filmmakers at the Cannes International Film Festival, France.
In May 2015, UP had inked memorandum of understanding (MoU) for two film city projects at an investment of about Rs 700 crore. The MoUs were signed in the presence of Yadav and Bollywood director-producer Boney Kapoor.
The two film cities are proposed at Lucknow and the proposed Trans Ganga City project in Unnao district. The Lucknow project would be developed in the vicinity of the under-construction Agra-Lucknow Expressway. The projects, each spread over about 300 acres, were projected to take 36 months for completion.
