*Govt. lauds Rahman, 'Slumdog' team* Mumbai (PTI): The government will not hesitate to consider 'stimulus' package for the film industry that has been affected by the financial downturn, Minister of State for External Affairs and Information and Broadcasting, Anand Sharma said on Tuesday.
"There is a need for the government and the (film) industry to work together. We are talking of stimulus and not bailout and the film industry also requires the same attention like any other sector," Sharma said inaugurating the three-day FICCI-Frames conference here. In Pics: Awards chase 'Slumdog' <http://blogs.thehindu.com/films/?p=5131> Acknowledging the international success of 'Slumdog Millionaire', Sharma said 'Taare Zameen Par' failed to get similar recognition as it was made in Hindi. We are all proud of AR Rahman and other Indians associated with 'Slumdog Millionaire'. But the song 'Ma' in 'Taare Zameen Par' was also very powerful. Why can't we institute awards like the Oscars? Sharma asked. Information and Broadcasting Secretary, Sushma Singh said that there was a need to evolve a system where expressions of interest or inquiries coming to the ministry are put on track. She asked the film industry to suggest a system to evolve and channelise the process that will benefit both - the industry and the government. Singh said the film industry should help the government by suggesting effective steps to take the co-production treaties signed so far forward. Information and Broadcasting Secretary said that the government had formulated a scheme to set a National Centre for Animation, Gaming and VFX on public-private partnership. The upgradation of the FTII Pune into a global film school will also be faciliated through the scheme, she said. The ministry has also planned to set up a museum of moving images in the Films Division complex in Mumbai to track the development of the film industry, Singh said. http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/009200902171661.htm -- regards, Vithur
