Union Information & Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said here on Friday that the Centre is in the process of passing a law in Parliament that will elevate the status of the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune and the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) in Kolkata to universities.
Once upgraded as institutes of national importance, diplomas handed out to students by the two institutes will also become government-recognised, Ms. Soni pointed out.
Addressing the third Convocation of SRFTI, she said that the Information & Broadcasting Ministry wants to turn the institute into a centre of excellence training students in animation technology and production management.
Admitting that a section of students might have reservations about animation courses being taught at a film institute, Ms. Soni said: “Do not think that animation is just a dilution. Study a bit deeper and you will realise that billions and billions of dollars can be earned in this industry. I have been told several times that many want India to become an international hub of animation and visual effect techniques. It will be the biggest sector after information technology.”
She said her Ministry had already sanctioned Rs. 45 crore for SRFTI to construct a new building for teaching animation techniques and production management. Classes for the first batch are expected to start in January next year.
Pointing out that the Indian film industry will celebrate its centenary in 2013, Ms. Soni said the I&B Ministry will soon set up a national committee comprising eminent film-makers to chalk out plans for a year-long celebration for the purpose.
She requested celebrated film-maker Mrinal Sen, who was present at the Convocation, to be a part of the committee. Highlighting the I&B Ministry's efforts to preserve the country's film heritage through establishment of the National Film Heritage Commission for which the Centre has already sanctioned Rs. 660 crore, Ms. Soni said that initially 3,000 films will be acquired and digitised and another 3,000 will be restored and transferred to inter-negative format so that they can be available to the public on DVDs at affordable rates.
Stating that she was aware of several issues pertaining to fund crunch and management troubling SRFTI's functioning, she said the institute needs to innovate itself continuously to come out of the situation.
Ms. Soni also disclosed that her Ministry has decided to introduce a centre of television excellence at a cost of Rs. 65 crore under the 12th Five Year Plan at the institute so that the floors can be rented out for generating revenue for the institute.
Moreover, a short-term course on cinema acting will be introduced in the next academic year.
“A section of the students met me today and demanded appointment of a permanent director and chairperson as well as sorting out certain inter-managerial matters. I have asked them to meet us soon so that we can sort the matters through dialogue,” Ms. Soni added.
