Patna: Bihar Art, Culture and Youth Department Minister Dr Pramod Kumar met actor Kumar Kanhaiya Singh at his residence in Patna on Monday to discuss the growth of the film industry in the state.
The discussions focused on opportunities for film production in Bihar, promotion of arts and culture, and measures to encourage local talent.
The minister also extended his best wishes to Singh for Sarkari Medium, a Hindi film whose shooting was recently completed in East Champaran district.
Government highlights film policy incentives
During the meeting, Kumar highlighted provisions under the Bihar Film Promotion Policy 2024, which offers financial incentives for film production in the state.
According to the minister, producers filming in Bihar are eligible for subsidies of up to Rs. Four crore. The policy also provides additional incentives linked to the employment of artists from Bihar.
He said the policy was developed after studying film promotion frameworks in other states and consulting stakeholders from the film industry.
Single-window permissions and industry support
The minister said the government is working to streamline the filming process through online permissions facilitated by the Bihar State Film Development and Finance Corporation (BSFDFC).
He added that filmmakers do not need to approach multiple departments separately for approvals and can apply through a single online platform.
According to the minister, more than 50 films have been granted shooting permissions in Bihar so far, with most projects having completed production.
The government is also creating a database of local artists and vendors to make it easier for production houses to identify and engage talent and service providers within the state.
Actor welcomes policy measures
Kumar Kanhaiya Singh welcomed the implementation of the film policy, saying it had created new opportunities for the growth of the film industry in Bihar.
He said films could play an important role in promoting Bihar’s tourism destinations and cultural heritage at the national level.
The actor also said that filmmakers should be encouraged to bring stories from Bihar to the screen in Hindi, regional and other Indian languages.
Support received during film shoot
Singh said his team received support from the Bihar State Film Development and Finance Corporation and local authorities during the production of Sarkari Medium.
The film was shot between April 17 and May 1 at various locations in East Champaran, including Mahatma Gandhi Central University, Chandrahia and BD World School.
Plans for future projects
Singh said he was in discussions with several production houses and expected to begin work on another film project in Bihar in the near future.
He also suggested that Bihar could consider hosting film award events to further strengthen confidence among filmmakers and promote the state as a production destination.
About the film
Sarkari Medium features Kumar Kanhaiya Singh, Dr Tisya Shri, Prince Gupta, Ayush Pandey, Kamal Ghimire, Ravikant, Gautam Gulal and Sukanya Pandit in key roles.
The film is written and directed by Raj Sagar, a native of Motihari who has been associated with the Mumbai film industry for more than a decade.
