India, believed to have made huge money from film making since 1913, has promised to assist Nigeria develop its film industry for the purpose of making good revenue.
The country’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Ajjampur Ghanashyam, who made this promise in Abuja today, said that India would partner Nigeria to develop the film industry to the level of viable industry.
Ghanashyam said that the Nigeria’s film industry had the potential to contribute more to the nation’s economy, saying: “`Nollywood may be relatively a recent phenomenon compared with the Indian film industry but there is scope for both of us to develop concepts from each other.”
He called for more training for the operators of Nigeria’s film industry adding that the Federal Government should create an environment conducive for proper funding of the industry.
Ghanashyam said such efforts could include making access to loans for film makers to be easier.
“In our own case, the government made the Bollywood industry to be an industry; they can raise a bank loan for making a movie.
“Initially accessing loans was not possible for film makers, they were dependent on anybody who was willing to give them the money but that has changed”, he said.
Ghanashyam said with good funding, the quality of films would improve, a development he said, would have a multiplier effect not only on the industry but the entire economy.
“Indian Film Industry started 1913. We had our centenary about two years ago. We have made about 78, 900 movies in 18 languages, that is why the Indian film makers are called the dream merchants.
“Here we make a movie with 20,000 to 50,000 dollars. You can’t make a movie with less than 50 million dollars in Hollywood.” [myad]
