THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has urged Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni to intervene and sort out the issue between National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC).
In a letter to Ambika Soni, Chandy stated that the closure of the NFDC Regional Office here would snap an important link between the local and the national audience.
Reconsider decision: Shashi Tharoor
Shashi Tharoor MP, has asked NFDC to reconsider its decision to shutdown the Regional Office. In a letter to Ambika Soni, he recalled a similar move in 2009 and the fruitful intervention by the Minister. “Nothing has changed since then and Thiruvananthapuram Branch office continues to deserve to be retained for very valid reasons, not the least of which is that it is not a financial burden on the Corporation,” he said in the letter.
While terming the present move as unfortunate, Tharoor said that Malayalam language films were on a par with films in any other language in quality and quantity. He also requested the Minister to consider expanding the activities of the office.
Extend the Lifeline:
K Muraleedharan
Senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan MLA, urged Ambika Soni to extend the lifeline of the Regional Office. In a letter, he brought to the Minister’s notice that it was late K Karunakaran who took the initiative to start the branch office in Thiruvananthapuram.
Refrain from the Decision: FFSI
Federation of Film Societies of India (FFSI) urged the NFDC to refrain from the decision to close down the office. In a statement, president V K Joseph and secretary K G Mohankumar requested K B Ganesh Kumar, Minister for Cinema and KSFDC officials to extend all necessary help to continue its functioning at the Kalabhavan Buildings, Vazhuthakkad.