ASI, Film Industry Can make India Better Tourist Destination

23 November, Panaji

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Additional Director General Sharat Sharma has said that, there were many new areas where ASI and film industry can further each other’s cause and collaborate to make the country a better tourism destination.

Speaking at a symposium organised on the sidelines of Film Bazar Sunday , Sharma said, ”Many new areas of co-operation have come up where ASI and the film industry can collaborate to make India a better film tourism destination.

Producer-Director Prakash Jha said, “The ASI should simplify all monument rules and regulations and be specific so that there is no room for the discretionary powers on shoot and content.”

Don’t get morality involved. We will follow the defined rules and protect our monuments. The application and payment process can be done online. The ASI, NFDC, CBFC can all work together for a single window clearance, he reqested.

Bharat Bala said, in Namibia, there is a place called the Moon Crater and it is a hollow place in a desert that looks like the surface of the moon. So we filmed over there and after that the government sent us a supervisor to help us clean all the tyre marks and restore the place. They preserve their spots beautifully so should we, by deputing people.

Film Maker Anubhav Sinha said, It is complicated to shoot at historical monuments whether it is the Taj Mahal in India or Parthenon in Greece or the Colosseum in Rome. What they do abroad is that they treat it like a business.

For every five people of your team, they appoint 1 representative for a fee per hour. He ensures that we do not damage the monument is not damaged and we clean up it before leaving helps us to follow the rules and regulations. As a businessman, this works for everyone so even the ASI can also appoint a person like this, Sinha suggested.