WE HAVE TO LIVE HERE, DIE HERE AND THERE IS NO WORLD OUTSIDE THIS – SUCH SHOULD BE THE PASSION FOR FILMMAKING
art critic and film journalist B. B. Nagpal & Sandeep marwahMaking an intensely emotional presentation the well-known art critic and film journalist B. B. Nagpal, appealed to the students of Asian Academy of Film & Television to revitalise the Indian film industry. Reeling off statistics, he said nearly six lakhs people are engaged – directly or indirectly – in the film industry in which more than 30,000 crores rupees have been invested. He said that number of films produced in the country is steadily declining after peaking to 912 in 1985. He lamented that only 764 films in 19 languages were produced in 1999. The students visibly pleased to learn from the speaker that Indian cinema is in the Guinness Book of World Records for a number reasons including highest annual production of films; highest number of silver jubilees in a row by a single film maker (Dada Kondke) in the same language and genre and; highest number of songs sung be any single singer (Lata Mangeshkar) etc. He proudly recalled that India had given to the world master craftsman of cinema Satyajit Ray and master showman Raj Kapoor who endeared cinema lovers all over the world. He said that the Indian film industry has been adversely affected due to rampant video piracy and illogical entertainment taxation which varies from 40% to 150% of the cost of the ticket. B. B. Nagpal concluded his presentation by remarking that in terms of money filmmaking is often a losing proposition and it is the passion for film making which keeps this industry going. Earlier welcoming the distinguished guests at the function organised as a part of ongoing celebration of seven years of the functioning of AAFT, Prof. Sandeep Marwah said that the institute aims at helping the students through systematic training to unfold their full potentials for self expression. Speaking on this occasion the renowned legal luminary Wasi Ahmad Nomani asked the students to use this powerful medium of mass communication with utmost care and to bear in mind that power corrupts and the absolute power corrupts absolutely. He said that keys to success are setting a clear-cut goal in life; sincere and hard work for achieving the goal and; a strong will to succeed. Reminding the students that public money is being spent to train them, he said that it is their duty to use their training for the good of the public. Wasi Ahmad Nomani ended his address with the fervent hope that AAFT alumni would always prove to be nothing but the very best professionals in their field of work.
