Author: Asmi Sinha.

The film industry in Kerala has been a significant cultural and economic contributor, yet the absence of a comprehensive film policy has hindered its full potential. This policy brief highlights the urgent need for a dedicated film policy in Kerala to address key challenges, capitalize on emerging opportunities, and foster sustainable growth in the industry.

Summary

Introduction

The film industry holds immense cultural significance in Kerala, with Malayalam cinema renowned for its artistic merit and thematic diversity. However, despite its rich heritage, the industry faces various challenges, including limited infrastructure, regulatory hurdles, and lack of government support. The focal point of concern lies in the realm of touring producers in Kerala. While the state attracts numerous touring producers, a discernible trend has emerged wherein these films often encounter box office failures attributed to an issue of overproduction. A dedicated film policy is essential to address these issues and unleash the full potential of Kerala’s film industry.

Key Issues

• Kerala’s film industry has witnessed remarkable growth with 176 movies reaching cinemas only in two months of 2022.1 However, the absence of a cohesive policy framework has hampered the industry’s ability to realize its true potential and compete on a global scale.
• News reports point that out of 114 Malayalam films released in theaters and on OTT platforms, only a handful, such as “2018” and “Romancham” managed to attract a significant audience. As a result, the industry suffered a collective loss of 300 crore rupees.
• More than 90% of the Malyalam films in 2022 flopped.This highlights the thriving presence of touring producers and filmmakers in Kerala, but also underscores the urgent need for the state to focus on audience development among other measures.
• A newspaper analysis also highlights various problems in the industry such as technical aspects of filmmaking, lack of diverse genres, repetitive plot structures, lacklustre promotions/marketing, and poor artistic talent (scripts/actors/producers). Therefore, these issues need urgent resolutions through a targeted film policy.

Recommendations

• Formulate a comprehensive film policy that addresses the diverse needs of the industry stakeholders, including filmmakers, producers, distributors, exhibitors, and artists.
• Provide incentives and subsidies to promote film production, distribution, and exhibition in Kerala, thereby attracting investment and boosting economic activity.
• Establish a film commission or regulatory body to streamline the process of obtaining permits, clearances, and licenses for film shoots and productions.
• Invest in infrastructure development, including the creation of state-of-the-art film studios, post-production facilities, and training institutes to enhance the technical capabilities of the local workforce.
• Further, it should aim at developing a comprehensive and transparent assessment framework for film projects based on the criteria of investment, social diversity and creativity.
• The policy should envisage the creation of film societies and film education subsidies to foster audience development. The policy should be made on an annual review policy based on quantitative and qualitative data. By addressing key challenges and harnessing emerging opportunities, the policy can drive sustainable growth.
• Encourage collaboration and partnerships between the government, industry players, and educational institutions to nurture talent, facilitate skill development, and promote innovation in filmmaking.