The Film & Television Institute of India to be made a centre for excellence: Ambika Soni

The prestigious Film & Television Institute of India (FTII) here would soon become a centre for excellence, enabling it to enjoy the academic status and privileges of a university, union Minister for Information & Broadcasting Ambika Soni told.

Soni told a bill to this effect would be introduced in parliament.

"This would help FTII foster creative ideas and facilitate students to pursue higher studies and research, both in India and abroad," Soni told, addressing a meeting of the parliamentary consultative committee of the ministry.

The measure making FTII a centre for excellence would also enable it to draw a road map and address growing needs of media and entertainment industries in the country, she included.

A group of professionals has already prepared a detailed project report for the proposed up gradation of the FTII.

Besides enhancing the existing infrastructure of the institute, the project report recommends revival of the courses being offered at the FTII.

The project report will be placed for the consideration of the FTII governing council at its next meeting here July 6.

The minister said the proposal was in sync with the 'outreach strategy' being adopted by the ministry with respect to opening of four regional centres of the Indian Institute of Mass Communications - at Jammu, Aizawl, Amravati and a city in Kerala.

Soni told a similar strategy was being adopted by the Directorate of Film Festivals, by taking the national award winning films to different parts of the country, through its Mini Film Festivals.

Government wants to digitize film heritage!

The government will soon set up a National Film Heritage Mission (NFHM) which would digitize film heritage all over the country, union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said.

The Planning Commission has recently approved an amount of Rs.6.60 billion as allocation for setting up the NFHM, an official statement quoted Soni as telling at a meeting of her ministry's Parliamentary Consultative Committee.

The NFHM envisages digitization of film heritage preserved by various departments around the country including National Film Archives of India (NFAI), National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), Films Division (FD), Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF) and Children's Film Society of India (CFSI).

Present at the meeting were Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting S. Jagatrakshakan, and MPs Shyam Benegal, Shatrughan Sinha, Bharat Kumar Raut, Anup Kumar Saha, Anil Madhav Dave, Tapas Paul, Ranee Narah, M.P. Achutan and Mohammed Adeeb.

Salman Khan doesn’t want to bore audience!

It’s been almost two decades; Salman Khan has been in the movie industry. He’s seen doing a diversity of roles but insists he doesn’t do boring movies.

The actor has given some major Blockbusters like Hum Apke Hain Kaun, Maine Pyar Kiya and the most recent one being his role of Chulbul Pandey in Dabangg.

“I don’t do boring films, I only take up interesting projects,” he told.

The actor is currently promoting his children movie Chillar Party and held a special screening for Information and Broadcasting minister, Ambika Soni.

Salman, 45, has produced the film and tells it is a fun film and hopes that everybody watches it. The actor who is busy shooting for his upcoming movie Bodyguard opposite Kareena Kapoor will not be able to attend the IIFA awards this year.

“I am busy shooting and don’t have the time to make to IIFA this year. It was fun last year to perform there,” Salman told. Asked whether he will miss not being able to make it to IIFA this year, the actor joked, “Yes IIFA will miss me for sure.”

The film is a yet another action film after Dabangg and Ready. It is a remake of a Malayalam film and will see Salman playing the role of a bodyguard to Kareena Kapoor.