PANAJI
Using the aegis of the inaugural ceremony of the 52nd edition of the International Film Festival of India, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, on Saturday, made a pitch to make Goa a film destination in the country, seeking central government support to set up a film city in the coastal State.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony which went underway near Panaji, Sawant also said that the film city could either be built in Goa with assistance from the Government of India or using a public-private-partnership model.
"I don't want to say too much, but I want to make one request to my friend and Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Anurag Thakur. Goa is known for IFFI, but it is our effort to build a film city in Goa either on PPP mode or with the help of the Government of India," Sawant said.
"It is our effort to have film shooting, film city, film institute, so that all the talent in Goa can be tapped in film editing, film photography, cinematography, direction, acting everything. There is a talent pool, skills available in the State of Goa. I think to promote it that in the coming days, not only IFFI, but to build a film city we will expect the help of Prime Minister Modi and Anurag Thakur," Sawant said.
"We want to be self-reliant in the entertainment sector too and definitely with the help of the Government of India we will achieve that too," the Chief Minister also said.
In the presence of cinema industry greats and stakeholders Sawant also said that Goa was on the verge of completing 100 percent double vaccination in a matter of days and said that benefits like 'single window clearance' made Goa an ideal destination for film shooting.
"For ease of doing business we are now giving a single window clearance and because of this Goa will witness even more films being shot here. Goa is the first state which is a 100 percent vaccination state. In a few days we will also complete 100 percent vaccination with both doses. I congratulate the PM for achieving this. Because of this we are able to host an event of this scale in Goa," Sawant said.
In a brief interaction with Bollywood director Karan Johar, Sawant also said that the thing he loved most about Goa was the sense of communal harmony in the state.
"Of course, I love everything about Goa, but first is the communal harmony. Everyone here lives here in harmony with each other. The second is the high literacy rate in Goa and the third is the sun, sand and sea," the Chief Minister said.
Sawant also picked 'Sholay' as one of his most favourite films and cited blockbuster films like 'Singham' and 'Ek Duje ke liye' as his favourite films shot in Goa.
