Hindi
Rs-500m film digitisation, sound restoration & software RFPs to be floated in ’17-18
NEW DELHI: Noting that substantial under-utilisation of funds under the National Film Heritage Mission has reflected in the overall idling of fund in the film sector as a whole during 2016-17, a Parliamentary Committee has asked the information and broadcasting ministry to ensure optimal utilisation of funds during the year 2017-18.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology, which also examines issues relating to MIB, stated that special care should be taken to ensure that realistic assessments are made to achieve the physical targets under the scheme so that unhindered implementation takes place in this important activity of the Ministry.
Expressed concern that even though the Scheme was approved in November 2014, the project had not kicked off due to procedural delay, the Committee asked the Ministry to ensure that the envisaged physical targets are achieved giving a real boost to the proliferation of activities under the Film Sector.
When questioned, the Ministry informed the Committee that at the commencement of the Plan Scheme, it was assumed that the executive agency for the works like film condition assessment of film reels, preservation, conservation of film reels, and digitization of film reels would be in place during 2016-17.
However, the fund allocation under this Scheme was downsized at budget and revised estimate stages (2016-17) to Rs 300 million and Rs160 million, respectively.
The Ministry said there was delay in selection of implementing agency and signing of Memorandum of Understanding with the proposed implementing agency due to service charge issue.
It was informed that major RFPs (request for proposals) for preventive conservation of film reels, digitization of films, 2K/4K picture and sound restoration of landmark feature films and short films, end-to-end IT software, CCTV implementation, etc. are proposed to be floated during 2017-18 for which an allocation of Rs 500 million has been made.
The Scheme of National Film Heritage Mission aims at restoring films of historical, cultural and aesthetic value and construct archival and preservation facilities.
It envisages restoration of 1200 feature films and around 1600 short films apart from preventive conservation of more than 1,00,000 film reels and creation of additional storage facilities.
Hindi
Rashmika Mandanna, Shanaya Kapoor and Naila Grrewal climb IMDb’s Indian celebrity rankings
Upcoming films and returning shows are driving fan interest across Bollywood and streaming
MUMBAI: Bollywood’s popularity contest has a new weekly scorecard, and the numbers are telling. IMDb’s Popular Indian Celebrities list for this week places Shanaya Kapoor at number six, buoyed by buzz around her film Tu Yaa Main. Naila Grrewal slots in at seven on the back of the returning comedy series Maamla Legal Hai, while Rashmika Mandanna climbs to eighth, riding mounting anticipation for Cocktail 2.
The list, available exclusively on the IMDb app for Android and iOS, tracks trending Indian entertainers and filmmakers each week, drawing on data from more than 200m monthly visits to the platform worldwide.
Further down the rankings, Raaka is keeping two of its biggest names in the spotlight. Deepika Padukone holds 11th position, with Allu Arjun close behind at 13th, as the film continues to find traction with audiences.
The list offers fans a weekly pulse on who is breaking through, who is holding steady, and who is fading. It is a barometer as unsparing as the box office itself.
