Bihar Launches First Film Policy with 4 Crore Support to Boost Regional Cinema

Chirag Gupta

Patna:

On Friday, Nitish cabinet meeting, 27 proposals were approved, including the state’s first film policy. This policy aims to provide full institutional support to filmmakers. Additional Chief Secretary for Art and Culture, Harjot Kaur Bamhrah, highlighted Bihar’s immense potential for filmmaking and announced that the government would provide financial assistance of up to Rs 4 crore for the development of infrastructure and to showcase Bihar’s rich cultural heritage through films, documentaries, and series in regional and other languages.

The policy includes various financial incentives for regional films in languages such as Bhojpuri, Maithili, Magahi, Angika, and Bajjika. It ensures single-window clearance for all government permissions and adequate security arrangements. An empowered committee, chaired by the Development Commissioner, will be established, and a Film Facilitation Centre will be created to streamline processes.

Deputy Chief Minister and Art, Culture, and Youth Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha emphasized that the objective of the Film Promotion Policy 2024 is to promote Bihar’s mythological cultural heritage and traditions through film. The policy aims to boost the production of high-quality films in regional languages, develop infrastructure, create employment opportunities in the film sector, and make the film shooting permission process easier. It also seeks to attract and encourage private investment in the sector.

Under this policy, the government will offer grants to promote and publicize the film industry and related businesses. Filmmakers who shoot their films in Hindi and regional languages within Bihar will receive various types of financial assistance from the government.