Chennai: Considering that many young people are influenced by watching films, filmmakers should make films that are progressive in nature and beneficial to society, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said on Saturday.
The film industry should not only provide entertainment, but also raise the bar and qualify by promoting “food for thought” among the people, Stalin said after inaugurating the Dakshin – Southern Media and Entertainment Summit – organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here.
“Films should be identified based on their quality content. Organizing film festivals promotes the entertainment industry as art and encourages business promotion. By holding award ceremonies, film personalities are honored and qualified people are respected,” he said.
Calling on those gathered to consider him one of them, the Chief Minister said his association with the film industry dates back to when he was one of the film producers.
“Even I had acted in quite a lot of films doing small roles. I came here to participate as one of you. Even in my autobiography ‘Ungalil Oruvan’, I mentioned that DMK and the film industry cannot be separated and the same way my family and the town of tinsel cannot be separated,” he said.
“This tradition dates back to the days of my (late) father (Mr Karunanidhi) and even now it continues with my son Udhayanidhi (who is an actor turned politician),” he said.
With the easing of the COVID-19 pandemic, all industries are resuming normal operations and it is glad to note that the film industry is also bouncing back, he said.
The chief minister also pointed out that conducting such an event in Chennai was “appropriate” as the metropolitan city looms large in the Indian film industry. “The Southern film industry has been a major contributor to Indian cinema and the city’s film makers are respected across the country,” he said.
Filmmakers should create films in such a way that the story, dialogue and direction are in sync with current trends and only then can the film industry continue to be a popular entertainment destination, did he declare.
Referring to the disclaimers shown in theaters before the start of a film about smoking and alcohol, he said that similarly, disclaimers should be shown about the consumption of ” gutkha and ganja” because they had a big impact on the younger generation.
On this occasion, Stalin published a report entitled “The regional is the new national – the way forward”.
CII Southern Region Chair Suchitra K Ella said that films from the south of the country account for 30% of the country’s overall media and entertainment revenue.
“The media and entertainment industry offers huge opportunities to excel in almost all verticals and the industry has rebounded to pre-COVID levels, growing the Indian media and entertainment industry at a much faster pace. faster than the world average,” she said.
South India contributes nearly 30% of media and entertainment revenue with more than 50% of films produced annually in India in the southern region, she said.
