Kerala cinema to get industry status latest by October 10: Minister Vishnunadh

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 26 (AHN) Kerala’s cinema industry will be granted industry status by October 10 at the latest, the deadline for the Congress-led UDF government’s 100-day action programme, Culture, Cinema, and Tourism Minister P.C. Vishnunadh said on Wednesday.

Talking to AHN, Vishnunadh said the government had made the decision to bring the entire gamut of cinema-related activities under the ambit of an industry as part of its 100-day programme.

The process of according the status is currently under discussion with various stakeholders, he said.

“To the best of my knowledge, no state in the country currently treats cinema as an industry,” Vishnunadh said, adding that Kerala would take the lead by formally according the sector industry status.

The ongoing discussions, he said, primarily involve various government departments that will have to make the necessary administrative and regulatory changes once cinema is brought under the industry framework.

The minister said the move would have a wide-ranging impact on Kerala’s film sector, with theatre owners expected to be among the biggest beneficiaries.

At present, theatre owners have to approach different government departments for various permissions and clearances, often making the process cumbersome and time-consuming.

Industry status, he said, would help streamline such procedures and create a more supportive environment for the exhibition sector.

The next major beneficiaries would be film producers, Vishnunadh said.

'With cinema being recognised as an industry, producers are expected to gain better access to institutional finance and loans at lower interest rates, reducing their dependence on more expensive sources of funding," he noted.

The minister said the proposed industry status should therefore not be viewed merely as a change in classification, but as a measure aimed at strengthening the entire ecosystem of Malayalam cinema.

"Cinema will get industry status by October 10 at the latest, which is the last day of the 100-day programme," Vishnunadh said.

The government believes that bringing cinema under the industry framework will improve the ease of doing business for stakeholders, facilitate access to finance and reduce procedural hurdles, while ultimately giving a much-needed boost to Kerala’s film sector as a whole.