On Thursday, Lieutenant Governor ManojSinha unveiled J&K Film Policy 2024 and launched a slew of initiatives including a single window portal for film shooting permissions and subsidies, J&K Film Screening Series and Frames of Transformation Photography competition. The new policy was unveiled during the inauguration of the J&K Film Conclave, organised by the Department of Information & Public Relations. It is expected that the single window portal launched will simplify the process of applying for shooting permissions and subsidies. Officials said that filmmakers can now apply online for everything from shooting permits to subsidy, making the entire procedure straightforward and user-friendly.
It goes without saying that Kashmir in yesteryears was most sought after destination as for as Bollywood film shooting were concerned. All big banners would ensure that they have some shots from Srinagar. Kashmir has been a favored shooting location for Bollywood since the early days of Indian cinema. Its scenic beauty, with its lush valleys, snow-capped mountains, and serene lakes, has provided a perfect backdrop for many films. The prolonged conflict and insurgency in Kashmir, especially since the late 1980s, impacted Bollywood’s presence in the region. The increasing unrest made it difficult and unsafe for filmmakers to shoot here. However, of late, Kashmir Valley has once again emerged forcefully on Bollywood map and more and more film makers are showing interest in shooting in Kashmir. It may be mentioned here that Bollywood films continue to play a significant role in promoting tourism in Kashmir. Movies shot in the region often boost its allure as a travel destination, helping to revive its tourism industry.
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With the new film policy adopted by the administration here, it is expected that more and more film makers not only from the country but from other countries are attracted to Kashmir. At the same time, the administration should encourage the local film makers and as rightly mentioned by LG, for promotion of regional cinema of J&K the policy should prioritise films in local languages. It is hoped that the single window portal initiative would ease the process of seeking permission. There have been complaints in the past that too much time is wasted while granting permission for shooting films here and because of this delay, some film makers change their mind and look towards destinations other than Kashmir. The entire process should made filmmaker friendly as that only would attract more and more film makers.
