Actor-filmmaker Satish Kaushik, who has his roots in Danaunda village of Haryana’s Mahendragarh district, has been appointed as the chairperson of the governing council for projects under the Haryana Film Policy. A source says that it’s a very satisfying experience for Kaushik, who has produced a Haryanvi film, Chhoriyan Chhoron Se Kum Nahin Hoti, helmed by his assistant Rajesh Amarlal Babbar and released earlier this year in March.
The veteran is proud of the fact that his state has come to the forefront in entertainment after the success of big Bollywood films like Dangal, Sultan and Tanu Weds Manu Returns. Diljit Dosanjh’s Soorma and Rajkummar Rao’s Turram Khan have also been shot in the Northern state. The new chairman has been on board for the drafting of the policy from the onset. He is positive that he and his team will certainly attract more filmmakers to the state with subsidies and incentives, as well as single-window clearance for filmmakers, be it from the municipal corporation, roads, traffic or the police.
Kaushik feels that Haryana is a great avenue for filmmaking from the sports and architecture point of view because there are many heritage structures and places where films can be shot. “After seeing the visual impact of the places you see in movies, you will feel like visiting those sites, too. This will promote tourism and as more films are made in Haryana, a lot of people will get employment,” says Kaushik.
The filmmaker says that apart from the fact that a lesser number of films are being shot in Haryana, the weakness of the exhibition sector because of the limited number of theatres is also an issue. “Increasing the number of screens is on our agenda. We’ll set up a committee to look into distribution and exhibition,” he promises.
Kaushik feels that there is ample talent in the state that is being nurtured through theatre in Rohtak and Hissar. He adds, “We have a film institute in Rohtak and now want to set up a Film City in Haryana, too, for which we are open to a partnership with a private firm.”
