CINEMA

FURORE OVER FIRE

Fire, a film portraying the pressures of modern Indian society on two women and their lesbian relationship, has been pulled off the big screens in India following large-scale protests by activists having allegiance to political parties. Directed by filmmaker Deepa Mehta, the movie has been sent back to the Indian censor board for re-censoring following the brouhaha.

INDIAN FILM GETS INSURANCE

In probably what could be a first for the Indian film industry, a Hindi film has managed to secure insurance from a government-owned insurance firm.

Taal, the film in question, has been insured by United India Insurance for a sum of Rs 100 million. The insurance is against every kind of risk, including the film's star cast, third party damage, technical equipment, office property and unseen foreseen expenditure. The film has been produced and directed by one of India's most successful filmmakers Subhash Ghai. Hitherto, insurance companies would not touch feature films even with a barge pole as the trade did not have the status of an industry. Earlier this year, the government announced that it was giving Bollywood industry status, throwing open the doors to institutional funding and insurance. However, not many financial institutions have come forward to fund projects as they feel the Hindi film making business has yet to professionalise.