Kerala’s Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cherian promises sweeping reforms. This starts from on-set safety to indie film support—as Kerala works towards a robust and inclusive cinema policy. At the closing ceremony of the Kerala Film Policy Conclave, Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cherian declared that a comprehensive film policy will be finalized within three months, incorporating the wealth of discussions held during the conclave
Highlights of the policy
- Central to the policy is the commitment to ensuring gender equality and full security for both men and women at film locations.
- It envisions implementing a common code of conduct to prevent detrimental practices like “review bombing” that can hurt a film’s reputation before its proper run.
- To ease the bureaucratic process for filmmakers, the policy plans to introduce a single-window clearance system for shooting permits, removing red tape and streamlining operations.
Support for independent film makers
Independent filmmakers also find substantial support in the draft. The state will guarantee at least one screening in government theatres for independent films and back them with subsidies to boost visibility and viability. Further anchoring the policy within broader audiovisual media, Cherian confirmed that it will include a television policy as part of Kerala’s evolving creative framework.
The event venue, R. Sankaranarayanan Thampi Hall in the Legislative Assembly complex, was graced by distinguished personalities including filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan, poet–filmmaker Sreekumaran Thampi, along with culture and film industry dignitaries such as K. Madhu, Padmapriya, and Nikhila Vimal. Finance Minister KN Balagopal presided over the function. Surya Krishnamurthy and Film Academy Chairman Prem Kumar were also present.
In summary, Kerala is advancing a powerful and equitable film policy initiative. This policy is scheduled to be formalized within three months. It underscores gender parity, procedural efficiency, and creative support for independent content; thus, marking a transformative step in the state’s cinematic governance.
