Government approves shooting of over 37 films, web series in state

Patna: Bihar govt has granted approvals for carrying out shooting of over 37 films, web series and documentaries in the state, art and culture department’s secretary Pranav Kumar said here on Wednesday.

Addressing a press conference here, the secretary said the effective implementation of the ‘Bihar Film Promotion Policy, 2024’ has now made Bihar a film-friendly state and an attractive destination for film makers. As a result, projects relating to shooting of over 37 films, web series and documentaries were approved.

“Of the 37 projects, shooting for many projects is currently underway in Patna and other locations in different districts of the state,” he said.

“We are working for overall development of film shooting in the state. You know that films like ‘Johny Mera Naam’ were shot in Rajgir, but with the passage of time, the situation changed. We want to promote the shooting of films in the state, either in the local language or in Hindi or in any other language,” Kumar said.

Kumar further said, “We are going to launch our website next week. The site will provide information with regard to the facilities being offered for shooting in Bihar. The 3D image and VR image of different locations, which may be attractive for shooting, will be uploaded on the website so that those willing to shoot in Bihar will get roughly 60-70% idea about locations.”

He said the department has sought a list of locations from the district magistrates and art and culture department officials in different districts which are either important from a historic or religious point of view, or from a shooting point of view.

On a query on a film city, the secretary said the department is also working for the development of a film city in the state. “The department wants to know what the demands of producers and directors are, and what kind of facilities they want in a film city. We do not want to offer things which may not be of much use for them (producers/directors).”

Kumar said the department urged the Centre to include Chhath Puja on the UNESCO World Heritage List in order to give the pious festival global recognition.

He also said that the state govt took a decision to honour senior artists, who gave their life to different forms of arts, by providing them a monthly pension of Rs3,000 under the “Mukhya Mantri Kalakar Pension Yojana”, so that they can lead a respectful life. A total of 85 artists from different districts were so far selected under the scheme.

With a view to preserving and protecting the endangered art, the department initiated “Mukhya Mantri Guru-Shishya Parampara Yojana” to pass it on to the next generation. Under the scheme, experts of endangered arts will be treated as “guru”, and those interested in learning these arts will be known as “shishya,” Kumar said, adding that one guru (teacher) will train eight shishyas (disciples).

Selected shishyas (disciples) will be trained in the state’s traditional folk art, music, dance, and musical instruments, as well as arts such as Jat Jatni and Manjusha art, in order to revive these art forms, he said, adding that the department received a total of 233 applications under the scheme.

The department created a total of 244 different posts to be filled for Bihar State Film Development and Finance Corporation Ltd, museums, and strengthening and reorganisation of the department and cadre, the secretary said, adding that 38 posts were created for Bihar State Film Development and Finance Corporation Ltd, 25 posts for strengthening and reorganisation of the department and cadre, 139 posts for the expansion of the Museum Directorate, and 42 posts for smooth functioning of the Buddha Samyak Darshan Sangrahalaya at Vaishali.