I4 policy aims to make Karnataka media and entertainment hub

Karnataka I4 (IT, ITeS, Innovation, Incentives)policy was aimed at making the state a hub for the convergence of media and entertainment industry, a top state government official said today.
"We have just announced I4 policy which extends the benefits given so far to the IT and ITeS industries to animations, gaming, CGI's as well- to put them on par with the IT industry on several key parameters," IT, BT and S&T Secretary Srivatsa Krishna said at the inauguration of FICCI media & entertainment business conclave here.
"This will hopefully bring convergence into Karnataka, we want to become the hub of innovation, we want to become the hub of convergence of media and entertainment and we want to shift the locus of that away from wherever it is today- be it Hollywood or Bollywood into Bangalore and into Karnataka."

Terming this policy as the bold step, he said: "It will be out on website in few days."
He said: "The state aspires to be the digital voice for the world- so the creation of content, the management of content and the distribution of content- anything that goes online happens out of Bangalore and Karnataka, there is no reason why we can't do so with resources available at us."
"We are developing a whole ecosystem which will give a fillip to IT, gaming, animation, and media; ....Hopefully we will be the largest media city in India," he added.

Inaugurating the conclave, state's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said: "Karnataka will provide an enabling environment to this eco-system by harnessing digitally empowered medium to its fullest."

He said Karnataka Animation, Visual effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) Policy has been one of the most forward- looking in the country with an aim to ensure maximum growth to the sector.
"We will work towards nurturing the industry by encouraging skill-building and initiating dialogue through conclaves such as these in order to understand industry concerns and formulate progressive and growth-friendly policies for the future."
Earlier speaking at the event, film star and Chairman media & entertainment business conclave Kamal Hassan stressed upon the need for developing necessary skills to make and produce meaningful yet entreating cinema.
"....For me the key lacuna lies in building the necessary skills for making and producing meaningful yet entreating cinema. As a nation, we lack sustained training in order to become cinema professionals with a truer sense," he said.

"For our films to make transition from being good to edgy- we need stronger scripts and more institutes to teach writing for movie as an area of specialisation.
"Our key business schools should make management of movies as an important part of their curriculum, only then will we see innovation and entrepreneurial fervor moving into that sector," he added.