Addressing the large gathering at Asian Academy of Film & Television, the former union minister of information and broadcasting Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that the long awaited decision to grant ‘industry status’ to film making taken during his tenure, was a step towards lending respectability to professionals engaged in this work. He hoped that this step had been helpful in freeing the film professionals from the clutches of the dreaded underworld as well as in encouraging production of responsive and responsible films. The distinguished guest reminded the students that proliferation of satellite television channels offer unlimited opportunity to film and television professionals to unfold their full potentials for self-expression. He promised all possible help and support to AAFT alumni in their work. Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also complimented the management and the faculty of AAFT for doing excellent work in the field of media education and training without any financial support from the government. Earlier welcoming the distinguished guests on the occasion of ongoing celebration of seven years of the functioning of the AAFT the director Prof. Sandeep Marwah requested the honourable former minister to continue to patronise the institute. Veteran journalist Ratnottama Sengupta who was also present on this occasion likened the mass media to ‘horse’ and opined that it always needs to be ‘reined in’. She said that the film industry all over the world will immensely benefit from the large number of talented and creative people amongst the billion strong Indians. She said that Shekhar Kapoor and Shyamalan should inspire Indian film professionals to make meaningful contribution to the world-cinema.
