LG Manoj Sinha: Cinema is the Most Powerful Medium to Unite Cultures | 4th Srinagar Film Festival

LG Manoj Sinha: Cinema is the Most Powerful Medium to Unite Cultures | 4th Srinagar Film Festival If we want to see our culture, richness and vastness from Srinagar to Srivijayapuram, then the most powerful medium is regional cinema which successfully attempts to bring different cultures closer to each other while strengthening the feeling of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, said the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Shri Manoj Sinha while inaugurating the 4th edition of The International Film Festival of Srinagar. I am confident that the contribution of the International Film Festival of Srinagar in strengthening this spirit of unity will be remembered in the future as well. Thousands of films are made in Bollywood every year. Many of them are films which definitely have a part of Jammu and Kashmir. More than the natural beauty, the excerpt points to the deep connection between cinema and Jammu and Kashmir. I wish this relationship grows stronger day by day, LG voiced. And in the journey of cinema, the journey of changes that have taken place in Jammu and Kashmir in the last five-six years should also be included in it. I believe that the shooting of films in Jammu and Kashmir in the last five to four years, since the end of the second wave of the Covid pandemic, has had a very positive impact on the social and economic system here. A new film Policy was also launched in 2021. Many filmmakers from India and abroad have come to know that Jammu and Kashmir has moved towards becoming an integral part of the film industry with its full potential. Several policy changes were also made for ease of shooting so that the industry revolutionizes film shooting by freeing it from red tapism and providing maximum convenience to filmmakers without any hassle. Shooting of over 300 films and web series has created a new source of revenue generation. Today, I’m looking at its multiplier effect. If we look at the global economic scenario related to cinema, then our film industry is probably at number five in terms of revenue generation. We estimate that the film industry will grow at a rate of 7% by 2027. There has been a lot of change. Apart from film production, new employment opportunities have also been created for the youth associated with set creation and tourism in film shooting. The local talent here has got an opportunity to showcase their skills. The ‘jugalbandi’ of cinema and theatre has brought a new energy and a new vibrancy to the cultural world of Jammu and Kashmir. I believe that cinema is one of the most powerful tools to shape and strengthen social and cultural morality. Unlike other mediums, cinema, through its visuals, sound, and stories, easily establishes an emotional connection with people and acts as a catalyst. And therefore, I would like its unmatched impact to contribute to the development of Jammu and Kashmir and, together with the administration, to become a partner in transforming Jammu and Kashmir. This would be my request to all of you. I congratulate all of you for the 4th edition of the International Film Festival of Srinagar. Expressing his heartfelt gratitude to all the people, the Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha quoted poet Bashir Badra’s lines: Ever since I have started walking, my eyes were fixed on the destination, my eyes never saw a milestone. बशीर बद्र मैं जब से चला हूँ मंज़िल पे मेरी नज़र थी आँखों ने मेरे कभी मील का पत्थर नहीं देखा