Actor Anupam Kher will no longer head the Jharkhand Film Technical Advisory Committee with the state government indicating that his absence from meetings may have been the trigger.
Information and public relations department secretary Sunil Barnwal said steps had been initiated to replace Kher, who was nominated in May 2016 as the head of the committee that was set up to review film making proposals for which the state government would provide various types of incentives and subsidies.
Kher recently resigned from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune citing overseas film commitments.
“So far, Anupam Kher hasn’t participated in a single meeting. This, in turn, has been affecting disposal of film proposals that would be shot and produced under state’s film policy of 2015. We have initiated moves to replace Kher. He is holding an honorary position and is, therefore, not entitled to financial benefits,” Barnwal, who is also principal secretary to the chief minister, clarified to the media on Tuesday.
The members of the committee are film makers Imtiyaz Ali and Mahesh Manjhi, general secretary of Federation of Film Societies of India Amitava Ghosh, musician Bullu Ghosh, folk artist Mukund Nayak, theatre personality Ajay Malkani, All India Santhali Association president Ramesh Hansda and former Ranchi university professor Ratan Prakash.
Barnwal addressed the media on preparations for 49th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) that began on Tuesday in Goa. Jharkhand is the focus state at this festival and November 24 would be celebrated there as Jharkhand Day.
Seven films shot in Jharkhand will be screened at IFFI. These are M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story, Begum Jaan, A Death in the Gunj, Panchlait, Mor Gaon Mor Desh, Ranchi Diaries and Ajab Singh ki Gajab Kahani.
While folk dances like Chhau, Paika and Nagpuri will also be showcased, visitors will be told about Jharkhand’s rich culture and scenic beauty to pitch it as an ideal destination for shooting films.
“Over 212 films from 68 countries will be screened at the fest. We have sent invitations to Bollywood celebrities like Vidya Balan, Mukesh Bhatt, Ravi Kishan, Vijay Swami, Ashwini Kumar, Yashpal Sharma and Rajesh Jais. We will also host a dinner there,” tourism secretary Rahul Sharma added.
