There are no disagreements about the power cinema holds to bring in social change. Going further than that, filmmaking in itself is a huge business which has the capability of providing permanent employment.
Goa has become IFFI’s permanent venue and once in a while Goa government or other organisations, in co-operation with the authorities, organise film festivals such as Marathi Film Festival. A club of cine enthusiasts associated with Goa Entertainment Society is carrying out such work. Despite all this, it remains a sad fact that Goa has stayed limited to be just a filming spot. The mining industry will end one day, the competition in the tourism sector from the neighbours is ever increasing and so, the film-making business can be that reliable third option. The film business has a tremendous capacity of generating revenue as well as employment.
Goans can work effortlessly in this sector and that is the reason why the former chief minister late Manohar Parrikar requested the then Information and Broadcasting minister late Sushma Swaraj to bring IFFI to Goa. Both the leaders are not alive anymore but their dream can be easily fulfilled.
People from all over the world come here for filming. Goa has been seen in many films, but how many of the locals have benefited from it remains a question. Not to say that Goa does not produce films or the Goans lack courage to break into this industry. However, the manpower and equipment required for this business must be supplied at local level. And for that the Government should think of starting an institution which provides technical training and education regarding film business and services related to the sector.
Looking at the diminishing response for the course in mining engineering, it must be accepted that youth have realised the fact that there is no future in mining. The days of getting excited about the central government removing export duty on export of low quality minerals are long gone. The mineral deposits left in our soil are very little and this hard-hitting fact must be accepted. The mines will shut down in no time once the limitations imposed on the mining sector are removed by the Supreme Court as the primary goal of any companies entering this business is to earn maximum profits in less time.
An affordable form of tourism is taking shape in the districts of Sindhudurg and Uttara Kannada and the flow of tourists is getting diverted towards them. There is no doubt that tourism in Goa will come under major pressure if the excise duty is reduced. Hence the film-making business should be looked at as the reliable and constant source of employment. The role of Goans should not stay limited to providing bouncers and the generators to people who come here for filming.
The services, equipment and manpower required for the film industry should be made available here. The Government, with the help of private partnership, can implement an initiative such as “Film City”. The State is far behind in terms of developing the Information Technology sector which is why it’s even more crucial to not let go of the opportunity to make Goa a film producing hub.
Hyderabad, which is a major film-making spot for South India and Mumbai which is the centre for Bollywood are about 500-600 kms from Goa. This makes Goa an interesting prospect to become an excellent centre for film-making. There has been a rapid growth in the country’s film business and mediums related to it in recent years.
Today, India is a country which produces the most number of movies every year which makes fields such as acting, directing, script writing, cinematography, music, sound, choreographing, graphics etc as very enticing career options for the youth. Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Calcutta, Whistling Woods International, Mumbai, Center for Research in Art of Film and Television, Delhi, L V Prasad Film and TV Academy, Chennai, National Institute of Film and Fine Arts, Calcutta, The Film School, Mumbai, Asian Academy of Film and Television, Noida, Zee Institute of Media Arts, Mumbai are some of the most reputed institutes which impart knowledge and training in film-making.
Goa can initiate by first stressing on providing education in film-making. It is very much possible to make Goa a centre for film-making business and all it requires is political willpower.
