I

New Delhi, May 9 (UNI) The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has approached the Finance Ministry for lowering the customs duty on the import of jumbo rolls to lower the production cost of films.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunsi said cameras for shooting, sound equipment and film rolls are part of the imports made by the film industry.

To understand the initiatives needed for further growth of the film industry, Mr Dasmunsi said the ministry had constituted five Core Groups to look into different aspects, including taxation and duties.

''The reports of these Groups are under examination,'' he informed the House.

With regard to the reasons behind low box office collections, the minister quoted a 2006 report of FICCI-Pricewaterhouse Coopers to inform that low admission prices, low occupancy level in theatres, low capital/investment level in the number of film prints and ineffective marketing were largely responsible.

To a query whether India had the largest percentage of cine goers in the world, Mr Dasmunsi said the film industry was largely in the private sector and segregated data on this issue was not maintained by his ministry.

UNI