The Hindu : National : Ensure quality of films: Jaipal Reddy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 01, 2004

National

National

Ensure quality of films: Jaipal Reddy

By Anil Sastry

Producer-Director Mira Nair (right) with Konkana Sen, who plays the lead role in the film, `The Namesake,' at the International Film Festival of India, 2004, in Panaji on Tuesday. — PTI

PANAJI, NOV. 30. The Minister for Information and Broadcasting, S. Jaipal Reddy, today urged Indian film-makers to come out with quality films to make a mark in world cinema. Speaking after inaugurating the Indian Panorama at the 35th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) - Goa here, Mr. Reddy said, ``I am afraid... while the quantity [of films] is going up, the quality is coming down. It is high time we should ensure quality." India was unable to sell its films in the international market owing to poor quality. ``We have not been able to sell our films to the Indian diaspora, leave alone foreign viewers. We are all for commercial cinema, but there is need to promote parallel cinema with socially relevant films," Mr. Reddy said.

Anti-piracy drive

Reiterating the Centre's commitment to tackle piracy in the industry, he sought cooperation from the State Governments, as they were the ones enforcing Central legislation. He launched a 45-second trailer on anti-piracy measures produced by the Motion Pictures Association of America. The trailer — carrying the message that buying pirated movies amounts to theft — would be screened before the beginning of each show in every theatre in the country.

The Indian Panorama features 20 feature and 20 non-feature films. Pinaki Chowdhury, a member of the jury on feature films, said that films and society were inseparable and the social responsibility displayed was the basis of selection. M.K. Raghavendra, member of the jury on non-feature films, said the jury watched 105 films to make the selection. The Indian Panorama has not fulfilled its purpose so far, while expressing the hope that the entry of video format this year could open the floodgates of films with promise.

The opening films were Saanjh (non-feature) directed by Jasmine Kaur and Manasarovar (feature film) directed by Anup Kurien.

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