Punjab to set up film city

CHANDIGARH - Giving a boost to the Punjabi film industry, the Punjab government has given its approval to set up a world-class film city in the neighbouring Mohali town.

“We have directed our tourism and culture department officials to prepare a conceptual plan for the proposed film city. This city would also have a film and television institute,” said Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal here Saturday.

“So far, many film professionals, who want to set up state-of-the-art film studios in the film Ccty, have already approached the Punjab government,” he said.

“This city would give a push to Punjabi cinema, and the film and television institute would provide professional training to the youth about the art of film making and its various technical aspects.”

“There is big shortage of quality technical staff for film making and this institute would provide the human resource backup to the film studios,” he added.

The Punjab government is making many efforts to promote the entertainment industry in the state. Badal has asked the principal secretary of tourism and culture to institute awards for the Punjabi films to encourage people to produce quality films.

The Bollywood film “Patiala House” was Thursday screened in the state’s Patiala city, around 65 km from here. It was organised after Badal made a personal request to the film’s lead actor Akshay Kumar.

After attending the premier show, Akshay announced he would produce a Punjabi film by next year.

He said: “Though I have acted in more than 125 films but this film (’Patiala House’) is closest to my heart because it talks about Punjabiat. I would also make a high quality film in my mother tongue Punjabi on the traditional sports of Punjab and it would be a humble tribute to my motherland.”