Tourism dept offers single window system for filmakers

With Gujarat slowly gaining ground as a popular shooting destination for Hindi films, and the state tourism department is taking steps to encourage filmakers to shoot in the state by offering single window clearance to facilitate obtaining permission from different government departments.

"We have recently started a single-window system to facilitate film crews to get clearances which involve multiple departments. While the tourism department cell cannot obtain the necessary clearances for them, it definitely facilitates to make the process smoother and faster," said Sanjay Kaul, commissioner of tourism and managing director, Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited.

He further added that the department is also offering certain incentives to film producers like accommodation at state government owned hotels (called Toran) at discounted rates. The single window clearance cell will also help film-makers to scout locations within the state and provide logistics support for the same.

Recently, quite a few big-budget Hindi films have been shot in the state including Dabangg 2, Matru Ki Bijlee ka Mandola, Kai Po Che to name a few. Currently, Sanjay Leela Bhansali is shooting for his Ram Leela in Kutch region of the state.

Popular actor Amitabh Bachchan's 'Khushboo Gujarat Ki' campaign to promote the state as a tourist destination perhaps has had an impact on the members of his fraternity to look towards the state as shooting location. The state offers a diverse landscape ranging from 1666 km coastline to the white desert of Kutch apart from several historical attractions.