Scripts fail to make grade

April 7: Quality Marathi cinema8217; will have to wait. The much hyped state government scheme to provide Marathi film producers financial aid of Rs 15 lakh to produce quality8217; films and salvage the ailing film industry has come a cropper, with just 4 out of 41 scripts receiving approval for funding from a high-level committee set up for that purpose.

Announcing the scheme late last year, the government had tentatively decided to fund 10 film producers before March 31, 1998. Now, the ten-member committee has written to producers commenting on shortcomings in the scripts submitted, and has advised them to make changes. Accordingly, it has stretched the deadline for submitting the reworked scripts to May 10, 1998. In a letter to producers whose scripts were rejected, the government has stated: 8220;It can be understood that the time limit given to submit the scripts was less, which might have resulted in substandard scripts. However, the quality of the script must be up to the mark, and the film must live up tothe expectations of the proud history of Marathi films. Please send the improved script before May 10, 1998, so that the committee can review it.8221; This letter is accompanied by a letter from the selection committee suggesting changes in the script.

The first installment for approved scripts will be of Rs 4 lakh, the next of Rs 6 lakh and the last Rs 5 lakh. Each installment will be given after the producer submits proof of one third completion of the film. Of the four scripts the committee has okayed, three are produced by women producers, including Marathi film personality Smita Talwalkar, Lata Jadhav and Vrushali Sawant, and the fourth by Chandrakant Joshi. However, only Talwalkar has been given the first installment of aid. The others have been asked to make a few changes in the scripts, after which the funds will be sanctioned.

Minister of Cultural Affairs Pramod Navalkar supported the committee8217;s decision to maintain quality control8217;. 8220;After all, the state government8217;s funds come from thehardearned money of citizens. If the films produced with this money are not satisfactory, the citizens will be deceived. As the committee comprises stalwarts from the industry, I am sure viewers in the state will get to see good movies within a period of two years, the deadline given to the producers to complete the film,8221; he stated.