FilmIndia (1939)

F I L M I N D I A Over Rs. 4,66,451 were paid as import duty on raw films. Over Rs. 15,00,000 were paid to the railways for transit. In addition to this nearly 20 lakhs of rupees were paid out as income-tax to the Central Government. Add to this the entertainment tax paid to the different provincial governments (which works out at 10% of the gross takings), electric tax (generally heavier for the film industry than for the others.) In short it is assumed that the Indian film industry has been giving to the Government nearly half-a-crore of rupees every year in different taxes and duties. Since 1929 up to now the Government must have received over 5 crores of rupees from the Indian film industry, apart from previous revenue which cannot be assessed for want of sufficient statistical information. As against this revenue during all these years, the Government has spent exactly Rs. 1,93,900 in appointing the Cinematograph Enquiry Committee in 1927, the report and recommendations of which Committee have been shelved as usual. In addition to all these taxes and payments to public utility concerns such as the Railways and the Electric Companies and minor taxes to the local bodies like the municipalities and the Local Boards, the Indian film industry pays out nearly 45 lakhs of rupees per year to the newspapers in advertising alone. And just because of all this, the Indian film industry ranks seventh in importance and is considered a key industry. An industry with these vast country wide pi'oportions and influence must find an important place in the scheme of national planning. In Germany the film industry is controlled and aided by the Government. It is an all important instrument of propaganda and education. In Italy, the industry is also controlled by the Government to build a new nation, while to the Soviet the film has been one of three important planks of national propaganda — the other two being the press and the radio. The French. Government has 4 February 19:i been spending a large amount every year to pm duce more and more educational pictures. Evt! the Government of the United Kingdom has bee providing protection to its national film industi by a Quota Act, Tariff barriers and the Cinem j tograph Act of 1927, (which has been recent', revised) . The world and other nations have been tr; veiling fast to protect their film industry and u: it to the full for educating their people and coi solidating their national ideals. India has been doing nothing of the sort i far. The Government has been merely pocke ing a huge revenue from year to year for the la; 25 years. The National Planning Committee must tal this matter in hand seriously. Some of the pr< blems which should recommend themselves 1 the attention of the Committee are as follows: 1. Quota Act — to enforce exhibition of a ce tain percentage of Indian films in all theatresto enforce compulsory exhibition of newsreel documentary and educational films in all theatn as a side programme with the main feature. 2. State aid for the production of newsreel educational and documentary films. 3. Supplying projectors to schools, college! and industrial institutions for the spread of visu, education and the national language (Hindusth 4. Providing a Central Advisory Board f< the Indian films on the lines of the British Fil j Institute. 5. Establishing a Central Technical Institu for the training of talent and for carrying on fu ther research. 6. Grant of scholarships for technical trai ing overseas. 7. Grant of medals and awards of merit f| a certain standard of efficiency and new researi work. 8. Establishment of a State Bank for tl financial backing pf the industry.