Hyderabad: Deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka on Wednesday said that the Congress govt is giving top priority to the Telugu film industry and is preparing a detailed blueprint to make Hyderabad the national hub of the film industry and a global centre for the film market.He was speaking at a meeting of jury members of the Gaddar Film Awards held at the secretariat. The deputy CM said that cities such as Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai have limited scope for further expansion of the film industry, while Hyderabad offers favourable factors for film industries of all languages across the country to grow.
Bhatti said that if film industries of all languages move to Hyderabad, it would generate employment opportunities for the youth of the state, including technicians, writers and directors, and help Hyderabad emerge as a global centre for the film market. He added that the govt would prepare a detailed blueprint in this regard.He said that the previous govt had neglected film awards for several decades, and that the Congress govt led by chief minister A Revanth Reddy has revived them to encourage the sector, which he said has a powerful influence in bringing about social change.Bhatti said that talent and transparency would be the sole criteria for the selection of film awards, and recalled that jury members last year earned widespread appreciation for conducting the selection process. He said the govt, through the Film Development Corporation (FDC), consulted stakeholders and appointed the jury members, and assured complete cooperation wherever required.He further said that while selecting films for the Gaddar Awards, care should be taken to ensure that, along with commercial elements, a strong social message is also present to encourage meaningful cinema. He announced that screening of films for the Gaddar Film Awards will begin from Feb 6, and that the awards distribution ceremony will be held by the govt on March 19 on the occasion of Ugadi.
