ITV

Tag: Maharashtra government

  • Republic TV’s Arnab Goswami sent to judicial custody for 14 days till Nov 18

    Republic TV’s Arnab Goswami sent to judicial custody for 14 days till Nov 18

    New Delhi: Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami’s problems does not seem to be coming to an end. Yesterday, in a big spectacle, Mumbai Police arrested him in abetment to suicide case. Soon after his arrest, there were reactions from different stakeholders of the industry and bureaucrats and many of them condemned the manner in which Mumbai Police had acted. Ministers, celebrities, lawyers, and broadcaster associations called upon the Maharashtra government to ensure a fair investigation in the matter without exercising powers of the government on media.

    In the latest development, Arnab Goswami has been sent to a 14 day judicial custody until 18 November. Media reports say that Goswami was presented before a magistrate in the evening and a court in Alibaug passed the order. However, the court turned down the plea for police custody.

    Reports also mention that Mumbai Police has registered FIR against Goswami, his wife, son and two others for allegedly assaulting police official. It will also start an enquiry against the officer who had earlier investigated abetment to suicide case in which Goswami was arrested today. The investigating officer had filed closure report, saying there was no evidence.

    Read more news on Arnab Goswami

    According to the reports, the case goes back to 2018 when the architect Avnay Naik, and his mother committed suicide in 2018 over alleged non-payment of dues by Republic TV. In 2018, the Alibaug police had filed a case of abetment to suicide but in 2019 the case was closed by Raigad Police. In May 2020, Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh announced a fresh CID investigation into the case after Adnya Naik, daughter of Avnay Naik, approached him.

    However, ARG Outlier Media has completely trashed the case finds it shocking that a case that was decisively closed has been reopened with the sole purpose of misusing power, concocting facts and forcefully arresting Arnab Goswami in a prima facie act of revenge and vengeance for his news coverage which questioned those in power in the state of Maharashtra. It further mentioned that the ARG Outlier Media had paid 90 per cent of its dues to the company of the deceased as per the terms of agreement. The remaining sum was to be paid on completion of the pending work, which has since not been undertaken. Repeated attempts were made by ARG Outlier Media to make the balance payment to CDPL, for full and final settlement of all claims.

    It must be noted that these developments are taking place amid the investigations of the ongoing TRP scam that saw Mumbai Police – Maharashtra government at loggerheads with Goswami on multiple occasions. The two sides have been repeatedly attacking each other.

  • Producers in Maharashtra gearing up to resume shooting

    Producers in Maharashtra gearing up to resume shooting

    MUMBAI: Producers are gearing up to resume production after Maharashtra government on Sunday gave the official sanction in this regard.

    The government gave green signal for the resumption of film and television shootings in non-containment zones.

    Indian Film & TV Producers Council chairman (TV division) and Hats Off Productions founder J D Majethia told Indiantelevision.com that producers have started the process to resume shooting of films and television/OTT serials.  

    He said, “Every producer will have to fill up an application form. If someone wants to shoot outside Mumbai, he/she will need to take permission from the district collector. Currently, we are in the process of filling up an application form with all the details that will be uploaded in the course of next two to three days.”

    After filing the application form, the concerned authority will scrutinise the details based on numerous factors like studio space, SOPs, etc. After evaluating the application and depending on the situation, they might be granted permission within seven days, he explained.

    Regarding the exact shooting date, Majethia said it will be finalised after discussing with other producers in two to three days.

    He added that every broadcaster, film producer and OTT platform will have to apply for permission separately. Shooting outside Maharashtra, however, is not allowed. The cultural affairs ministry said that producers will have to conduct pre-production and post-production works by adhering to the rules and regulation laid down by the government.

    Producers will have to apply to the managing director of the Maharashtra Film City in Goregaon, Mumbai, and to district collectors outside Mumbai for resuming shootings.

    Majethia clearly stated that they are filling up the application form after taking into consideration the well-being of everyone involved. He concluded: “Our topmost priority is to safeguard the lives of our people; we are thinking of all possible measures to resume the shoot without risking anybody’s life.” 

  • MIFF 2016 to showcase 385 documentaries & short films

    MIFF 2016 to showcase 385 documentaries & short films

    NEW DELHI: A total of 385 documentaries, short and animation films will be screened during the 14th edition of Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) for Documentary, Short and Animation Films commencing on 28 January.

     

    The biennial event, organised by the Films Division of the Information & Broadcasting Ministry and supported by the Maharashtra Government, will conclude with the awards ceremony on 3 February.

     

    MIFF will feature 30 films in the International Competition, including 12 from India, and 27 films in National Competition vying for the Golden Conch Award.

     

    The screenings will be held at the Films Division theatres, Russian Culture Centre and Sophia College theatres at Pedder Road, Mumbai. Screenings will also be held at the Mumbai University auditorium Kalina, Mumbai and Doordashan Kendra (Worli). 

     

    Addressing the curtain-raiser press conference in Mumbai, Festival director Mukesh Sharma said, ‘MIFF is the oldest and the largest festival of non-feature films in South Asia as it started in 1990.”

     

    He added, “MIFF brings together a talent pool of documentary film makers from the across the world with their works featuring in international, national, animation and new media competition sections. We received a record number of 831 entries from 25 countries.”

     

    The inauguration of the Festival from Mumbai will be covered live by DD Bharati from 4.30 pm

     

    Additionally, Sharma also informed that for the first time, MIFF had roped in a brand ambassador in Jackie Shroff. “He who regards documentaries as catalysts for social change and is planning to make short films to spread awareness about dreaded diseases and on social issues,” Sharma added.

     

    Highlighting the importance of documentaries that deal with real life challenges, veteran filmmaker Mike Pandey stressed the need for a dedicated documentary channel in the country. 

     

    Sharma said in order to increase the outreach of documentary films, the Films Division has signed an agreement with Prasar Bharati, under which Films Division’s documentaries will be shown on the DD Bharati channel.

     

    The inauguration and closing functions will be held at the Ravindra Natya Mandir in Mumbai at 5 pm on 28 January and 3 February respectively. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will be chief guest for the opening ceremony and Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore will preside. 

     

    Maharashtra Culture Affairs Minister Vinod Tawde, filmmaker Shyam Benegal, I&B Secretary Sunil Arora, Films Division DG Mukesh Sharma, and Shroff will be present.

     

    “Apart from International and National competition, the screening of films in MIFF Prism, Indian Premieres, Jury retrospectives, Animation and award winning films from different countries, Children’s documentary films, North East package, FD and PSBT (Public Service Broadcasting Trust) films, homages etc, will make it a wholesome viewing experience for the delegates of MIFF 2016,”Sharma said. 

     

    The festival will also present special packages from leading international documentary film festivals like Berlin, Dresden, DokLeipzig  from Germany and Leiria from Portugal.

     

    Some of the best documentaries of 2015, among them Mohammed Ali Naqvi and Hemal Trivedi’sAmong the Believers –  about the roots of religious extremism in Pakistan and Joshua Oppenheimer’s The Look of Silence – a Danish documentary about Indonesian killings of 1965-66 and Rinku Kalsy’s For the Love of a Man – a documentary about the cult of adulation for Rajanikant in South India are among the top draws.

     

    The International Jury for the Festival comprises documentary makers Don Askarian from Germany, Jesper Andersen from Denmark, Mathiue Roy of Canada, Siddharth Kak and Gitanjali Rao.  

     

    Pandey, who is president of the Indian Documentary Films Association, Uma DaCunha, Biju Dhanapalan, Audrius Stonys (Lithuania) and Jane Yu (Taiwan) are the members of the National Jury.

     

    The festival will also have Master classes by Jury and eminent filmmakers, Camera and Digital workshops, Producers’ Forum, Panel discussions, Seminar and Open Forum by IDPA, under the MIFF Hub.

     

    Cash prizes worth Rs 60 lakh will be distributed for the winners in various categories along with Golden Conch Awards.

     

    In addition the festival will honour a veteran personality from the Indian documentary fraternity with the V Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award that carries a cash component of Rs 5 lakh, trophy and a citation.

     

    Buoyed by the warm reception to the MIFF Zone, screening of films in National competition will be held simultaneously in New Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Lucknow, Nagpur and Thrissur. MIFF Zone is aimed at taking select competition films to film lovers who are unable to travel to Mumbai for the MIFF.

     

     

  • MIFF 2016 to showcase 385 documentaries & short films

    MIFF 2016 to showcase 385 documentaries & short films

    NEW DELHI: A total of 385 documentaries, short and animation films will be screened during the 14th edition of Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) for Documentary, Short and Animation Films commencing on 28 January.

     

    The biennial event, organised by the Films Division of the Information & Broadcasting Ministry and supported by the Maharashtra Government, will conclude with the awards ceremony on 3 February.

     

    MIFF will feature 30 films in the International Competition, including 12 from India, and 27 films in National Competition vying for the Golden Conch Award.

     

    The screenings will be held at the Films Division theatres, Russian Culture Centre and Sophia College theatres at Pedder Road, Mumbai. Screenings will also be held at the Mumbai University auditorium Kalina, Mumbai and Doordashan Kendra (Worli). 

     

    Addressing the curtain-raiser press conference in Mumbai, Festival director Mukesh Sharma said, ‘MIFF is the oldest and the largest festival of non-feature films in South Asia as it started in 1990.”

     

    He added, “MIFF brings together a talent pool of documentary film makers from the across the world with their works featuring in international, national, animation and new media competition sections. We received a record number of 831 entries from 25 countries.”

     

    The inauguration of the Festival from Mumbai will be covered live by DD Bharati from 4.30 pm

     

    Additionally, Sharma also informed that for the first time, MIFF had roped in a brand ambassador in Jackie Shroff. “He who regards documentaries as catalysts for social change and is planning to make short films to spread awareness about dreaded diseases and on social issues,” Sharma added.

     

    Highlighting the importance of documentaries that deal with real life challenges, veteran filmmaker Mike Pandey stressed the need for a dedicated documentary channel in the country. 

     

    Sharma said in order to increase the outreach of documentary films, the Films Division has signed an agreement with Prasar Bharati, under which Films Division’s documentaries will be shown on the DD Bharati channel.

     

    The inauguration and closing functions will be held at the Ravindra Natya Mandir in Mumbai at 5 pm on 28 January and 3 February respectively. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will be chief guest for the opening ceremony and Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore will preside. 

     

    Maharashtra Culture Affairs Minister Vinod Tawde, filmmaker Shyam Benegal, I&B Secretary Sunil Arora, Films Division DG Mukesh Sharma, and Shroff will be present.

     

    “Apart from International and National competition, the screening of films in MIFF Prism, Indian Premieres, Jury retrospectives, Animation and award winning films from different countries, Children’s documentary films, North East package, FD and PSBT (Public Service Broadcasting Trust) films, homages etc, will make it a wholesome viewing experience for the delegates of MIFF 2016,”Sharma said. 

     

    The festival will also present special packages from leading international documentary film festivals like Berlin, Dresden, DokLeipzig  from Germany and Leiria from Portugal.

     

    Some of the best documentaries of 2015, among them Mohammed Ali Naqvi and Hemal Trivedi’sAmong the Believers –  about the roots of religious extremism in Pakistan and Joshua Oppenheimer’s The Look of Silence – a Danish documentary about Indonesian killings of 1965-66 and Rinku Kalsy’s For the Love of a Man – a documentary about the cult of adulation for Rajanikant in South India are among the top draws.

     

    The International Jury for the Festival comprises documentary makers Don Askarian from Germany, Jesper Andersen from Denmark, Mathiue Roy of Canada, Siddharth Kak and Gitanjali Rao.  

     

    Pandey, who is president of the Indian Documentary Films Association, Uma DaCunha, Biju Dhanapalan, Audrius Stonys (Lithuania) and Jane Yu (Taiwan) are the members of the National Jury.

     

    The festival will also have Master classes by Jury and eminent filmmakers, Camera and Digital workshops, Producers’ Forum, Panel discussions, Seminar and Open Forum by IDPA, under the MIFF Hub.

     

    Cash prizes worth Rs 60 lakh will be distributed for the winners in various categories along with Golden Conch Awards.

     

    In addition the festival will honour a veteran personality from the Indian documentary fraternity with the V Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award that carries a cash component of Rs 5 lakh, trophy and a citation.

     

    Buoyed by the warm reception to the MIFF Zone, screening of films in National competition will be held simultaneously in New Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Lucknow, Nagpur and Thrissur. MIFF Zone is aimed at taking select competition films to film lovers who are unable to travel to Mumbai for the MIFF.

     

     

  • Forcing exhibitors is no solution for Marathi cinema revival: Ronnie Screwvala

    Forcing exhibitors is no solution for Marathi cinema revival: Ronnie Screwvala

    NEW DELHI: Reacting to the Maharashtra government’s directive to all multiplexes in the state to screen at least one Marathi language movie in prime time, media and entertainment veteran Ronnie Screwvala said it was more important for the exhibition sector itself to “open its eyes to regional cinema.”

     

    “Forcing some regulations on people but not enforcing it only creates problems,” he said.

     

    Founder of one of India’s largest media and entertainment conglomerates – UTV, Screwvala launched his book with a coffee session with Karan Johar in an event held at the capital on 8 April.

     

    “Inject humour and laughter and look people in the eye even when you are telling them about failures. Make failures completely acceptable, and it will work,” he voiced.

     

    Screwvala has clearly learnt from his disruptions, and broke new ground by creating radio and television advertisements for his book Dream with Your Eyes Open, which he claims is not a biography about encouraging entrepreneurship.

     

    Referring to his weekly television programme on ET Now, he said that was also about entrepreneurship and not about him. Screwvala opined that his own entrepreneurial journey had been filled with innovation and disruption.

     

    Referring to his career in filmmaking and his 1997 film Dil Ke Jharoke Mein, he said, “Sometimes you are ahead of your times and therefore you fail.”

     

    The basic thought is about how more people can be encouraged to venture into entrepreneurship of their own. The ambition and aspiration level has to be charged, instead of just providing infrastructure to people, he said.

     

    Johar added that it is important to dream, but one should dream with one’s eyes open so that one can distinguish between what is right and wrong and rationalise.“Ronnie’s journey is an inspiration, to say the least. His innate ability to merge creativity with commerce is remarkable,” he said.

     

    Rupa Publications managing director Kapish Mehra added that the publication of the book had in itself been an entrepreneurship and it had done a landmark sale of 50,000 for a first time author within a week of its launch.

  • Maharashtra govt orders multiplexes to allocate primetime slot for Marathi films

    Maharashtra govt orders multiplexes to allocate primetime slot for Marathi films

    MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government has issued a directive to all multiplexes in the state to screen at least one Marathi language movie at their properties in the prime time slot of 6 – 9 pm.

     

    Home Minister RR Patil was quoted in a DNA report saying, “Hereafter, it will be mandatory for all 27 multiplexes in Mumbai to give Marathi cinema prime time slots. The permission for new multiplexes will be sanctioned only if they dedicate a separate screen entirely to Marathi cinema.”

     

    The move comes in a bid to give a fillip to the state’s Marathi film industry. Actor Riteish Deshmukh, who made his Marathi film debut with Lai Bhaari, took to Twitter to welcome this news.

     

    It may be noted that the BJP government has also made it mandatory for theatres to play the national anthem as well as a song that honours the father of Indian cinema – Dadasaheb Phalke.

     

    The order, issued by Culture Minister Vinod Tawde on Tuesday, also mentioned that the word ‘Bombay’ will be replaced with ‘Mumbai’ in all the 199 occurrences in the laws on culture and entertainment.

     

    It may be recalled that the Maharashtra government led by Devendra Fadnavis had recently offered benefits to private players to make Marathi language films.

     

    A Delhi based advocate Ishkaran S. Bhandari tweeted, “Doubt whether Govt order of 6-9 pm time slot only for Marathi movie in multiplex is Constitutionally Valid. Should be violative of 19(1)(g).”

     

    It remains to be seen how the exhibition industry reacts to this bit of news.

     

  • Maharashtra cable ops plan statewide entertainment tax protest

    Maharashtra cable ops plan statewide entertainment tax protest

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra is in for a major rally and cable TV blackout come 16 December if the state’s operators have their way. The reason for the strike: it is their way of protesting against the Rs 45 per subscriber entertainment tax that the state levies on them.

    The rumblings of the current agitation began in the city of Nagpur. On 9 December around 600 cable operators across 11 districts of the Vidarbha region got together at Patwardhan ground, Sitabuldi raising their ire against the “harsh government tax”.  Simultaneously, the cable ops switched off their signals to their subscribers in the region.

    “Approximately, 12-15 lakh STBs were switched off between 9 am to 7 pm. Our intention was not to deprive consumers of their entertainment, but to inform them about the tax regime,” says Nagpur District Cable TV Operators’ Association president Subhash Bante. “We had earlier asked the government to inform consumers about entertainment tax, which wasn’t done, so we have taken the baton in our hand.” 

    Even this did not get a revert from the Maharashtra government; hence they intensified their agitation with at least two cable TV operators going  on a  hunger strike from 10 December onwards. “We want to meet Maharashtra revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat and express our view point,” informs Bante.

    And even if this does not get them an audience, Bante says the protest will spread throughout the state with the rally that is being planned for next week. The exact date has not been fixed “but associations from across the state will participate in the rally. We are in talks with the Maharashtra Cable Operators’ Federation and others for the same. Also, there will be state level switch off on the day,” he reveals. 

    5000 cable operators are expected to participate in it along with 50 consumer associations. Supporting the cable operators are consumer associations like Maratha Seva Sang, Sambhaji Brigade and Mulnivasi Mukti Manch among others.

    So what are the LCOs demanding? For starters, the LCOs feel that the quantum of entertainment tax is too high, as compared to other states. “Then we want a centralised system for entertainment tax. Consumers should be made aware that they need to pay Rs 45 per TV as entertainment tax. Many are not aware that they have to pay it, and those who have become aware are unwilling to make the payments,” elaborates Bante. “Finally, the backlog of entertainment tax for the past 10 months should be waived off.” 

    Bante reveals that most cable TV operators have expressed that taxes on cable TV should be a central government prerogative which should be imposed uniformly nationally, and not be left to the states. He explains: “The central government can form a committee which includes cable operators from all over India. They can decide on an entertainment tax amount which is uniform for all states and that it collects just like it does with income tax. It can later re-distribute the amount to the states.”

    However, what is troubling the cable ops the most is the backlog of entertainment tax. “No revenue was generated from April-June 2013, since we were seeding STBs.”

    Also, according to the circular issued on 7 March by the state government, the multi-system operators (MSOs) were asked to pay the entertainment tax. This was seen by the LCOs as a move to deny them the ownership of their consumers. However, since it was the LCOs who had been paying the entertainment tax since the start, the move was resisted by the LCOs who then under the leadership of MCOF and Nashik District Cable Operators Federation moved to the Bombay High Court, seeking a stay on the circular. In the interim, the Maharashtra government in November again issued a circular asking the LCOs to pay entertainment tax directly to the district collector.  

    Nagpur’s cable TV ops have been striking since 10 December

    It was during this period that the LCOs did not collect any entertainment tax from the consumer. “Now, this has led to an outstanding amount running into crores over the past 10 months,” says Bante. His estimate is that the backlog for Nagpur alone is at Rs 22 crore. “If Nagpur city alone has such a huge outstanding, one can only imagine the amount of backlog for eight districts which includes: Nagpur, Thane, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Nasik, Kalyan-Dombivali, Mumbai city and Solapur,” he says.

    Though the voices of the striking LCOs have not yet been heard, Bante is hopeful. “We are currently waking up the consumer. I am sure, the state government will surely lend its ear to us,” he opines.   

    “The winter session is on right now. Though the operators are on strike, no one seems to be bothered about them. I will be presenting their issues to the assembly session next week regarding the same,” Cable Operators Distributors Association president Anil Parab told indiantelevision.com when we contacted. Parab, a Sena activist, has in the past made unsuccessful attempts to get Maharashtra’s revenue minister to lower the amount levied as entertainment tax. 

    The key question, however is will the Nagpur cable ops, along with consumer organisations, and the MCOF be successful? Watch this space!  

  • Maharashtra government grants tax exemption to Bhaag Milkha Bhaag

    Maharashtra government grants tax exemption to Bhaag Milkha Bhaag

    MUMBAI: Milkhaji‘s inspiring life would now be accessible to many more citizens in Maharashtra. With the commendable responses that

    the film is getting, the Maharashtra government on Saturday granted tax exemption to Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra‘s biopicBhaag Milkha Bhaag.

    Mehra was pleasantly surpriseds that the government acted so speedily and was very pleased and touched. The film would now be accessible to those middleclass families who cannot afford the ticket prices at multiplexes.

    Mehra is hopeful other states would follow suit and grant his Milkha biopic tax exemption in the coming week. 

  • Shemaroo bags Maharashtra Govt’s digital restoration job

    Shemaroo bags Maharashtra Govt’s digital restoration job

    MUMBAI: Leading content owner and distributor, Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd, has won a contract to digitally restore Maharashtra government’s 4,000 minutes of content.

    According to the agreement, the company would have to restore many short films and documentaries of the state government from negative/print.

    Observed Shemaroo Entertainment director Hiren Gada, “We are honoured to get an opportunity to serve the Govt. of Maharashtra and digitally restore many of its films and documentaries. The process will enable us to save a large pie of content from getting lost.”

    It may be noted that Shemaroo set up its in-house state-of-the-art digital post-production studio in 2001. Shemaroo has restored films like Mohabbatein, Veer Zaara, Anand, Chupke Chupke, Kaajal, Mahaan, Mera Gaon Mera Desh and Deewaar among others.

  • Maha Govt. Hikes entertainment tax on multiplex tickets

    Maha Govt. Hikes entertainment tax on multiplex tickets

    MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government on Wednesday announced additional entertainment tax of 10 to 20 per cent on multiplex tickets priced above Rs 250.

    The step followed complaints that multiplex owners arbitrarily hiked ticket rates of blockbuster movies.

    On a ticket costing Rs 251 to Rs 350, the additional entertainment tax will be 10 per cent, for tickets priced between Rs 351 and Rs 500, the additional tax will be 15 per cent more and for tickets priced Rs 501 and above, it will be 20 per cent.