Haryana: CM Manohar Lal Khattar launches first film policy

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday launched the state’s first film policy in Gurgaon. He is looking to develop Haryanvi cinema and talent and make the state a favoured destination for filmmakers from other industries.

The policy implies the creation of a Film city in Haryana. According to officials, a “Haryana Film Cell (HFC)”, consisting of government officers, professionals, and experts from the film industry, will be set up under the policy to create “incentive structures” to make Haryana a preferred destination.It will also work on the “branding of Haryana” in films and narratives surrounding those films.

The policy aims to propel the development of infrastructure in the state including the film and television studios with production and post-production, upgrading film and television institutes and setting up “theatres and alternate exhibition fora”.

The policy also aims to ensure development of shooting places by identifying and developing potential shooting locations.

The Indian Express quoted Khattar saying, “The policy will help the film industry and business in the state, but we expect it to also benefit the people of Haryana. If the state attracts more interest from various film industries, (then) employment opportunities for the youth as well as opportunities for skill development will open up. In addition, films can also help to inculcate good values in a society.”

Khattar also emphasised the importance of cinema in promoting “unity in the country”, saying, “Regional cinema must be encouraged. Understanding each other’s lifestyle, language and culture is critical in maintaining the unity of the country, and such cinema can help with this.”

The state government will also form a “Haryana State Film Archive” in collaboration with State University of Performing and Visual Arts, Rohtak, to “protect and preserve all past and present film material produced in the state”. The daily quoted him saying, “We will also hold another event to launch this policy in Mumbai, where we expect more of the artistes will be able to attend and we will be able to tell them more about the shooting locations available in Haryana and the other facilities the state has to offer.”

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