Date:29/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/29/stories/2008112957690200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Ambitious film projects to become a reality

Staff Reporter

Seminar held on UK-India film collaborations

— Photo: R. Ragu

Collaboration: Actor Kamal Haasan with Bradley Jones, Head of South Asia Unit, UK Trade and Investments (centre) and L.Suresh, vice-president, Film Federation of India, at a seminar in Chennai on Friday.

CHENNAI: With the recent ratification of the UK-India Co-production Agreement, ambitious film projects such as Maruthanayagam of Actor Kamal Haasan may soon become a reality.

Speaking on the occasion of a seminar on ‘UK-India Film Collaborations: The way forward’ here on Friday, actor Kamal Haasan said, “The agreement will facilitate trade and exchange of ideas between the two countries. It is a versatile platform for realising the dreams of completing films like Maruthanayagam.”

“With the agreement, I envision Indian films speaking English. Two of my scripts demand England as location,” said Mr.Kamal Haasan.

“The agreement will bring western sensibility to the Indian films and help sell the film internationally,” said Dina Dattani, a consultant.

“This will help in the import and export of film equipment duty free and get access to public funding,” said Lee Stone, Partner, Lee and Thompson.

“The agreement allows pooling of creative, financial, technical expertise and resources,” said Isabel Davis, Senior Executive, International Strategy & Co-production, UK film Council.

The Co-producers should have an application lodged in each country in two stages, provisional and final.

The decisions will be made jointly by competent authority in each country. The filmmaking contribution of each country will be 20/80 split in bi-lateral agreement. U.K has ratified co-production treaties with Australia, Canada, France, India, Jamaica, New Zealand and South Africa. The agreement will provide access to public benefits including UK Film Tax Relief, UK Film Council production funds and regional funds.

Qualification as British film can be either through a cultural test or the co-production treaty. Bradley Jones, Head of South Asia Unit, UK Trade and Investments and L.Suresh, vice-president, Film Federation of India participated.