All Indian Cine Workers Association urges for new Film City in Mumbai
All Indian Cine Workers Association urges for new Film City in Mumbai
The Film City in the maximum City’s Goregaon has been the
epicenter of infinite movie and television shoots. With many in the entertainment industry feeling that the property isn’t in a position to accommodate the mounting film industry’s demands, the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) met Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Maharashtra’s Revenue Minister, to discuss their proposal of the state investing R10,000 crore in constructing a new Film City.
The AICWA emphasised
that the existing Film City is primarily nestled on forest land, of the film city, rendering it impossible to expand further.
Citing the example of Uttar Pradesh’s in-the-works Film City, which boasts proximity to metro stations and an airport, they emphasised the need for a similar facility in Mumbai.
Suresh Shyamlal Gupta, President, AICWA, shared that they met with Patil and he has ensured to take up the matter with the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar,Deputy Chief Minister. There seems to be no possibility for further development of the existing Film City(Chitranagiri) and that their infrastructure doesn’t match up to the needs of the film industry. The UP government has ensured that there is metro and airport connectivity, and everything possible in the Noida Film City. What is done for Bollywood here?”
Rohit Saraf says that he is freaking out about this film city.
Although, it is still at the discussion stage, Gupta hopes the concerned authorities will take prompt action. He added that on a drive through Film City, it will be observed that the roads are damaged that there are no street lights, and the roofs of sets are leaking. They have requested that 500 acres of land around Mumbai be identified, and work on a bigger studio set-up begins. No one is asking them to cut forest land. That should be preserved at all costs.
In the proposal, the AICWA has recommended that the new property has important features. One of the suggestions is that it could include hostels. “About 60 lakh people come to work here every year, and more than 50 per cent of them return [after being unable to make ends meet]. Hostels can be built for them.
A filmmaking institute can be established. Today, most of the studios are sold or on the verge of sale – from RK Studios to Filmistan. Shoots in Mumbai have reduced a lot. For our heritage and employment, this needs to be done.
News Edit K.V.Raman
