“I resigned because I & B Ministry never gave me freedom” – Vijay Anand
“Just because I wanted to be rational & global in our approach to censorship, I was made to pay for it”, thunders Vijay Anand, who resigned as censor board chairman on Saturday, slamming the Information & Broadcasting Ministry. “I have quit on grounds of lack of democracy and freedom”, Anand asserts. Recently, Anand was embroiled in a controversy when he suggested that certain theatres be designated for X rated movies. The last straw was when a committee planned to propose an amendment to legalise theatres for X-rated movies. Anand who quit within 10 months of taking up the post (Tenure was of 3 years) says, “ I had to give in or quit. It is difficult for a thinking person there. I thought I would have some freedom. I was sadly mistaken”.

Avoid Dispute on Copyright
All Producers and/or Writers can register all the CONCEPT/ STORY/ SCRIPT/ SCREENPLAY of FILMS / TV SERIALS in favour of the respective Producers and writers against a payment of Rs.500/- with AMPTPP. The Applicant must be a member of the AMPTPP and non-members
application cannot be entertained. Registration proves helpful to the Producer member in case of dispute with regards to the copyright/ownership of the software.

Kudos to Bollywood Mantris
Shatrughan Sinha & Vinod Khanna’s inclusion in the cabinet indicates the beginning of an era when filmstars are being taken seriously in Indian Politics. Vinod Khanna & Shatrughan Sinha want to do everything in style. At a felicitation programme organized for the duo, they walked into their felicitation programme thrown at The Grand Maratha with arms thrown around each other like long lost brothers. Eminent personalities turned up in big numbers for the celebration including Subhash Ghai, Yash Chopra, Ramesh Sippy, to congratulate the Bollywood duo on their political careers.

The Hindi Film Industry welcomed the induction of two in the Union Council of Members. Describing it as long overdue, “it was for the first time the industry stars were taken seriously by the politicians & given responsible positions in the Central Govt.” the industry people said. Pahlaj Nihlani, film producer and President of Association of Motion Pictures & TV Programme Producers said, “It is a big achievement for Sinha & Khanna. The film industry welcomes their induction as ministers.” “Both have done a lot for the industry, Nihalani said, adding “Shatrughan had even helped Bollywood achieve the status of an industry and get bank finance. “Most pleasant news”, “it was a rare occasion for the industry” were some of the remarks made by noted film makers.

Zee Shuts down Bharati, Kaveri
Bharati (Tamil) & Kaveri (Kannada): two regional
channels promoted by Zee Telefilmshave shut down despite Zee’s effort to make a dent in the flourishing southern market . Bharati & Kaveri failed to make a mark in TamilNadu & Karnataka. Bharati was launched in March 2001 and Kaveri was launched with a tie-up with Asianet in June 2000 which had to face tough competition from Sun TV & Teja. Zee is chalking out a new strategy to foray once again into south India next year, with a focus on local needs.

ULFA call for Ban on Hindi films finds few takers
The United Liberation Front of Assam’s (ULFA) call for a ban on Hindi Films in the state, since they were a part of “Hindustani Invasion” has been received with protests in the state. The call was published as an editorial in the latest issue of ‘Freedom’. The All Assam Students’ Association held a demonstration at a Guwahati Theatre forcing the Theatre owner to screen an Assamese film replacing the ongoing Bollywood film. The AASU claimed that the owner had discontinued a popular Assamese film just to screen the Amitabh-Dutt starrer Hum Kisise Kum Nahin.
Many leading film personalities have described this trend as “unhealthy”. A veteran film critic and script writer Pabi Kumar Deka points out that many Assamese artistes have made their dent in Bollywood including Seema Biswas, Jaya Seal & Deepannita Sharma. Many artistes suggested that the govt. should necessary steps so that the Assamese films are not deprived of screening facilities. But a ban on Hindi films was not justified since it is a major source of income for theatre owners apart from providing employment to hundreds of localites.

IDBI to finance 100 crore to the film industry
P. P. Vora, IDBI Chairman doesn’t know much about actors. But he is all set to help the film industry get itself organized. He is keen to lend Rs.100 crore as film financing to the film industry mainly A grade films. The criteria being that the production house has to be a corporate entity with a successful track record. The proposals would be forwarded to their Advisory Board comprising of eminent personalities from different business sectors. So far 10 films have been financed, of which 61 crores has been sanctioned to seven of them. Aankhen was the first IDBI sanctioned film. He also points out his concern firstly about the timely completion of the film and risks involved due to delay, and as well the marketing of the film. Secondly, the standardization of documentation with crew, cast, director, producer, and distributors is crucial. The most important concern is that of insurance, which can come forward in case of any mishap, accident or delay. IDBI aims to gain diversification from film financing. “Our film industry can be No.1 in the world. This industry can be a money spinner if it follows an organized way of functioning” says P.P. Vora.

Sahara TV to set up earth station
Sahara Television will now set up its earth station in Noida before the launch of its city based news channels. Sahara recently received permission to uplink from India The clearance has been given by the I & B Ministry and it also got the approval by SACFA (Standing Advisory Committee on
Frequency Allocation Approval). The Sahara group is in the process of shortlisting and acquiring equipment since the earth station is scheduled to be up and running by August. Sahara has plans to acquire 1500 VSATS. According to Sahara TV head Sumit Roy, the news bureau will have a strong team of 1100 persons and the entire exercise will cost Sahara more than Rs.250 crore in the next 2 years.

AMPTPP writes to Shashilal Nair: Manisha’s complaint
Manisha Koirala, who plays the leading lady in Shashilal Nair’s Ek Chhotisi Love Story, has filed a complaint with CINTAA against Nair, asking the Association to intervene and ask the filmmaker to delete objectionable shots in the film. According to the complaint filed by Manisha, Shashilal Nair had informed her vide his letter dated April 22, that some portions in the film have been shot with a duplicate as it involved a certain level of physical exposure. The letter stated he would replace any shot that was found objectionable by her. However, when she conveyed the objection to 4 shots in the film he did not accede to her request of deleting the shots. Manisha has alleged that the shot will not only affect the film but also her reputation and the other films in which she is playing the female lead. At the request of CINTAA, AMPTPP has sent a letter to Shashilal Nair to do the needful.

Business Opportunity from ZEE
Zee offers a golden opportunity to Film Makers keen on selling the electronic rights of their Hindi films. Zee wishes to buy the overseas rights of such films. Essel Vision, the
distribution arm of Zee Telefilms aims to exploit the overseas market for Hindi Films besides allotting electronic rights. Zee has already set up its branch in UK & USA to reach the
overseas market in turn facilitating the film makers. The division is primarily the brain child of both Subhash Chandra & B. L. Gautam.

Cable Operators withdraw Blackout Call
Cable Operators withdrew their call for a blackout from July ’02 after receiving assurances from the I&B Minister Sushma Swaraj that the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Amendment Bill 2002 has not been delisted from the RajyaSabha. Mr. Vikki Choudhary, President of Cable & Telecommunication Association , said that if the MP’s of Rajyasabha opposed the Bill, the cable operators would protest by disconnecting the cable connections of these MP’s.

New DD Regional News Chief
Mr. R. M. Pawar has taken over as Joint Director (News) Regional News unit of Doordarshan Kendra, Mumbai. He has been an IIS Officer from 1987 batch. He has also served DD News, New Delhi, Registrar of News paper of India, Chennai, PIB, Pune & also as PRO, Defence, Pune.

AIR celebrates 75th Birthday
The All India Radio (Akashwani) celebrated its Platinum Anniversary (75th Birthday) on July 23. Born with a capital of Rs.4.5 lakhs & 2 radio stations in Mumbai, AIR has grown over the years as one of the largest broadcasting networks of India. Currently it has a network of more than 200 centres with 310 transmitters including 3 on FM.

Priya Rajvansh finally gets justice
Sessions Judge S.P. Nikam gave a final verdict on July 31 at 12.00 noon hrs. The four accused of the Priya Rajvansh murder case were sentenced to life time imprisonment.

AMPTPP’s Anti Piracy Cell raid in Ulhasnagar
AMPTPP President Pahlaj Nihlani and Anti Piracy Cell’s Madhukar Nayak etc. conducted a big raid in Ulhasnagar at ‘Sound of Music’ a big pirate of India and arrested Laxman Tejumal Das Gambani alias ‘Lalli’, Dinesh Patel, Ratan Swami Wali Kanu and Daulat on July 21. Lalli is also the owner of USA cable Network in Ulhasnagar which screens pirated movies 24 hours and on the day of raid Men in Black II was being screened. A large number of pirated VCD’s of newly released Hindi & English movies were also screened.

Arvind Trivedi is the new CBFC Chief
Former BJP MP, Gujarati Actor and a member of CBFC, took over as the Chairman of CBFC from July 22, after Vijay Anand’s resignation. Arvind Trivedi best known as Lankesh from the popular serial Ramayana, is a traditionalist, who firmly believes in our culture and its purity. He vows to work within the set guidelines of the CBFC Board & would not go against the Indian culture and tradition. According to him, people who are not interested in improvising the quality of the films are the people who are keen on incorporating sex and violence in the movies. He assures that nothing that is obscene shall be passed by the board. He assures that he does not have double standards.

Asian Film Festival starting on Aug 3
First Asian Film festival shall be held starting from August 3 to August 10 in Mumbai. It is organized by the Asian Film foundation , Mumbai, Prabhat chitra Mandal, NFDC & YB Chavan Pratisthan. About 14 countries including Nepal, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, China, Thailand, Srilanka, Taiwan & India are participating & nearly 40 films would be screened.
According to K.Shantaram, the festival would begin with the premier show of an Iranian film BARAN (Rain) which deals about the Afghan Refugees in Iran and their plight. One of the
sections also includes the parallel cinema.

Non Co-operation: Mr. Irfan Khan of Media India.
Mr. Irfan Khan of M/s. Media India has been declared defaulter by the Joint Dispute Settlement Committee of AMPTPP & FWICE because of his failure to honour the decision of the said Committee that he should pay a sum of Rs.96,000/- to Mr. Imtiyaz Hussain for writing work of Serial “MAFIA” and hence AMPTPP has requested all its members of AMPTPP and affiliates of FWICE not to co-operate with him in any manner whatsoever. AMPTPP has further warned that anybody is violating this directive by engaging the services of Mr. Irfan Khan, he/she is doing at their own risk as to costs and consequences thereof and the FWICE will not be responsible if there will be any disruption or stoppages of shootings.

BOMBAY HIGH COURT DISMISSES EIMPA APPEAL
MR. A.P. SHAH AND SMT. NISHITA MHATRE HON’BLE JUSTICES OF BOMBAY HIGH COURT DISMISSED THE APPEAL NO. 691 OF 2001 OF EASTERN INDIA MOTION PICTURES ASSOCIATION IN SUIT NO. 5008 OF 1999.
Mr. Pillai, the learned counsel appearing for appellants conceded that the appellants being associations of distributors and since the respondent no. 1 (original plaintiff) is not their member, they have no authority to impose any penalty on respondent no. 1. However, he urged that this right is impliedly conferred upon the appellants by virtue of the agreement between two apex bodies. According to the learned counsel it is not necessary for the appellants to give any prior notice or follow principles of natural justice in case of violation of agreement and penalty would follow as a matter of course. In the opinion of AMPTPP, the action taken by the appellants is prima facie
unjust and unfair.

AMPTPP launches its TRAINING DIVISION
AMPTPP has started a new drive to foster new talent for creating an abundant supply of new recruits, technicians and budding talent in the industry. As part of the drive AMPTPP has extended its support to DIGITAL ACADEMY, where the trainees shall be extended an invitation to join AMPTPP’s training Division. AMPTPP shall apart from a periodical review of the curriculum, recommend the students /members to various Producer members and Post Production houses as well as help the academy in organising Auditions and interview sessions of their students. The students/ members shall also be issued ID cards and AMPTPP hopes to create a pool of adequately trained recruits to meet all the manpower requirements of the Producer and Production Facility Division members of AMPTPP.

AMPTPP : SALES TAX IMPORTANT NOTICE
Several Producers are seen purchasing cinematograph raw films i.e. Colour Negative & Positive for taking out prints of their Picture from outside Maharashtra to take advantage of paying Sales Tax at a lower rate.

Now as per the amendment made to the Central Sales Tax Act 1956, it has become mandatory to obtain Form “C”/Form “D” effective from May 13, 2002 in the course of an interstate sale from say Goa/Pondy (where sales Tax concessions have been accorded by the Government) failing which the local Tax rate or 10% whichever is higher will apply. All inter branch transfers will require Form “F” compulsorily.

All Producers hereby need to register with Sales Tax Authorities concerned in case of interstate dealing and/or purchase of colour raw film and obtain “C’ Form etc., as mentioned above, in their own interest, failing which this will attract serious punishment including search and seizure.
For the sake of information of all Producers, quoted below are the amendments made to the Central Sales Tax Act 1956, by the Government.
1. Section 8 of the CST has been amended so far as to make receipt of Form “C”/Form “D” mandatory in the course of an inter state sale, in a case where the State has notified a lower rate of tax on interstate sale or where the local sales is
chargeable at a rate lower than 4%. Thus it becomes
mandatory to obtain Form “C”/Form “D” effective May 13, 2002 in the course of an interstate sale from say Goa/Pondy (where sales tax concessions have been accorded by the Government) failing which the local Tax rate or 10% whichever is higher will apply.
2. All Inter branch transfers will require Form F compulsorily.

FWICE DECLARES NON CO-OPERATION CIRCULAR AGAINST SAROJ KHAN
Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has informed vide its Press note that as the dispute between their member, Dance Director Ms. Saroj Khan and one of their affiliate, Cine Dancers Association has not been settled they have issuednon-co-operation circular issued against her. All Producers are requested not to engage the services of the said Dance Director Ms. Saroj Khan with immediate effect.

AMPTPP: NON CO-OPERATION with GANESH ACHARYA
The AMPTPP has declared Non Co-operation against Dance Director, Mr. Ganesh Acharya for deserting the entire cast and crew of Time Movies The Hero in Kulu-Manali and returning to Mumbai without informing the Producer thereby causing loss of about 1 Crore to the Producer as he will have to take the entire cast and crew to Kulu-Manali for picturising the song again.

Dispute settled amicably : Right Image and Priyanka
The dispute between Right Image International and Priyanka Chopra has been settled amicably after M/s. Right Image International had lodged complaint against the said
artiste. The AMPTPP had taken up the matter with the artiste and the dispute has been resolved with the artiste refunding the signing amount of Rs. 5 lakhs by giving post dated cheque in favour of AMPTPP and the dispute has been amicably settled.

Yukta Mookhey and Producer settle differences
Through the good offices of AMPTPP all the differences between Artiste, Ms. Yukta Mookhey and Producer, Mr. Ramesh Sharma, have been amicably settled and they have withdrawn all allegations and complaints against each other as the same were just the result of misunderstanding which has now been cleared and henceforth both parties will fully co-operate with each other.

Ashok Pandit thanks AMPTPP
At the request of AMPTPP, M/s. Pratham Media Ent. Pvt. Ltd, have cleared the balance payment of Rs. 30,000/- due and payable by them to Mr. Ashok Pandit of M/s. Samay
Creations. Mr. Ashok Pandit has thanked the AMPTPP for
taking up his case with Ms. Karuna Samtani of M/s. Pratham Media Ent. Pvt. Ltd, for recovering his outstanding dues, within a sport period, which proves the organizations commitment towards its members.

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