Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is leaving no stone unturned to promote her state's image. The West Bengal government is attempting at an image makeover.
A national award for Amitabh Bachchan for his performance in Piku came as a huge boost for West Bengal's image as it was in sharp contrast to earlier times when Kolkata was used as a location to portray only poverty and distress. Movies like Piku and Kahaani have added the thrill factor, and the Mamata Bannerjee government is using it as a chance to change the state's fortunes.
At the investor’s summit in January 2016, she wooed investors by selling West Bengal as an industrial haven. While the number of investors may not have surged, Bollywood has been charmed by Kolkata and Mamata's words.
Film director Gautam Ghose said, “I am glad directors are coming from Bollywood to shoot. It changes perceptions and helps us."
The state government has, in fact, already announced some key measures such as introducing a single clearance window to process requests for films to be shot in the state. Besides, while new cinema halls are slated to be given an Entertainment Tax subsidy for up to two years, new multiplexes will be given an Entertainment Tax subsidy for up to four years.
States like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala have benefitted from big Bollywood projects and Mamata hopes that Bengal with its diversity and rich history could entice Bollywood even more and add to the coffers of the state.
Mamata has already roped in Shahrukh Khan to boost tourism in West Bengal. There is no denying that the best crowd puller remains the big screen.
Comments
0 comment