Star News Agency

New Delhi. The introductory meeting of the Expert Committee for up gradation of National Film Awards (NFA) was held in New Delhi today. The Committee members unanimously selected Sh. Shyam Benegal the Chairman of this expert Committee. It was also decided that the Committee would submit its recommendations latest by 15th March 2010 to be able to make qualitative changes for NFA 2009.

Welcoming the eminent ten members of the Committee present for the meeting today, the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Smt Ambika Soni said that the Ministry wishes to be benefitted by the recommendations of the Committee so that the revamped National Film Awards 2009 can be presented for the public at large. The Minister also desired that a time schedule be laid out so that National Film Awards become an annual fixture in the year’s calendar and every effort be made to ensure that by following proper, democratic, transparent procedure litigation is minimised if not completely avoided so as not to derail the schedule as happened in recent past.

Kick-starting the discussions, the Members acknowledged that National Film Awards carry a dignity and importance not rivalled by any other Awards in the industry purely because National Film Awards give due recognition to the pan-Indian cinema in the country. However the Members suggested that keeping in view the technological advancements more categories in the Awards recognising newer professional fields, newer formats such as digital format and newer media should be recognised. The Members were also of the view that a two tier jury – regional and then national level jury should be appointed to do justice to the language nuances/regional significance. The Members also suggested that in keeping with the earlier recommendations of the Satyajit Ray Committee and Karanth Committee reports, a ‘Chalchitra Academy’ should be established. Increase in the cash reward of the Awards and rationalizing the Censor procedures were also discussed.

Among those who attended the meeting today included S/Sh. Shyam Benegal, Ashok Vishwanathan, Jahnu Baruah, Mohan Agashe, Nagesh Kuknoor, Rajiv Mehrotra, Shaji Karun, Vishal Bhardwaj along with Ms. Sai Paranjapye and Smt. Sharmila Tagore. Senior officials of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Directorate of Film Festivals were also present.

This Committee shall make recommendations regarding up gradation of National Film Awards for Feature, Non-Feature and Best writing on Cinema and the Dada Saheb Phalke Award and the resultant changes to be made in the Regulations thereto.