Dehradun: Renowned filmmaker/producer Director Mr. Ramesh Sippy was invited in Pavilion of Uttarakhand under “Global exhibition on Services” held in Mumbai. Secretary Information/ Director General Dr Pankaj Pandey and deputy director information KS Chauhan held a detailed discussion with the director, producer Ramesh Sippy about the possibilities of shooting films in Uttarakhand. Director/ Producer Sippy said that there were immense possibilities of film shooting in Uttarakhand. He said the environment has become conducive for film shooting in Uttarakhand from past two years and it is due to this reason, the state has received the award of being the ‘Most Film Friendly State’ during the national film festival recently. He suggested that the film producers from Mumbai should be invited from time to time and small film festivals should be organised and in addition to that new destinations for film shooting should be identified. He said that if the camera instrument, technicians, lightmen and others artist can be made available to the producers in the state then it would be really useful for the film making in Uttarakhand. He said that the infrastructure and facility should be developed at the new film shooting destinations. He suggested that efforts should be made to invite international film makers to Uttarakhand for film shooting so that the natural beauty of Uttarakhand is publicized around the world.
Secretary/Director General, Information department Dr. Pankaj Kumar Pandey informed Ramesh Sippy that in past one year several big producers have shot their films in Uttarakhand. More than 50 film and TV serials have been shot in Uttarakhand in one year. Dr. Pandey said that government was bringing some changes in the film policy of the state for which suggestions of the producers and directors would be valuable. Dr Pandey has invited the selection committee of the national film festival to Uttarakhand for a meeting for which Ramesh Sippy has consented and said that the full board would be coming to Dehradun in month of June.it is to be noted that Ramesh Sippy is a member of national film festival committee.
Dr Pankaj Pandey said that around 100 films, TV serials, documentaries, video albums have been shot in Uttarakhand since 2015 which have been given clearance through single window system in less than seven days. Films such as Shivay produced by Ajay Devgun, Rag desh by Tigmanshu Dhulia, TV serial on Sony Badey Bahiyaa ji ki Dulahniya, Telgu film Brahmotsavam, Hindi film Shub Mangal Saavdhan, Marathi film Furr, Hindi film Batti Gul Meter Chalu, Hindi film Student of the Year- 2, Parmanu by John Abraham, Total Dhamaaal, Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat, regional film Gopi-Bhina, Bhuli, Badri- The cloud, Major Nirala have been shot in the state. Director, National Film development corporation NJ Shiekh suggested that Uttarakhand should participate in film festivals around the world to provide information about the shooting locales in Uttarakhand. Additional Secretary IT Amit Sinha, Director Industry Sudhir Nautiyal, Uttarakhand film development board nodal officer KS Chauhan, film facilitation center government of India Vikramjit, Sunita Rawat, Leena and Kavita were present on the occasion.