Cooperative production ushers in change in film financing

Mumbai, Aug 14 (UNI) In an attempt to bring a sea change in financing pattern in the Indian film industry, director Milind Ukey along with the 'Spandan Parivar Cinema Movement' (SPCM) has pioneered the production of 'Hum Ne Jeena Seekh Liya', an adaptation of a Marathi novel 'Shala', on a cooperative basis.

''The funds of approximately Rs 70 lakh have been collected from about 150 people. Their share will be returned from the profit of the film,'' Milind said.

Actor and writer Amarjit Amle's SPCM has branches in Mumbai, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Solapur and Satara. It trains in various mediums of cinema, conducts workshops and raises awareness about the industry.

At least 200 students at SPCM have worked as technicians in the film. ''The crew was selected as per their expertise as an art director, choreographer, cameraman, among others,'' Milind informed.

He feels that encouraging such a system would give creative freedom to the directors and the focus would shift to story and rather than on extravagant budgets and starcast.

Milind completed the shooting in 40 days. It is slated to release in October.

'Hum Ne Jeena Seekh Liya' dwells on the subject of adolescense problems, their crushes and tender romances. It gives a chance to newcomers besides casting veteran Marathi and Hindi actors like Milind Gunaji, Reema Lagoo, Raju Kher, Dr Girish Oak and Rekha Rao.

Speaking about his new film, Milind said, ''It is a story about teenage romance blooming in school, which runs into trouble due to socio-political issues. The film makes a strong statement on the education system and the issues regarding teenagers.'' The cinema movement in India started with big studios like Prabhat, Gemini, Rajkamal etc which shifted to individual producers and big production houses producing movies. Of late, corporates ventured into the show business.

According to Milind, ''Co-operative movement in films is a good option to pursue meaningful cinema.'' Not only banks, credit societies, sugar factories or milk producers could work on a co-operative basis, but film industry as well,'' he added.

Milind acknowledged the SPCM's support in this endeavour. He said it was a family of 150 people who shared and collected funds to produce films, promoted good technicians, assisted them in their studies and careers in filmmaking.

Milind has earlier assisted Sanjay Leela Bhansali in 'Khamoshi' and 'Hum Dil Chuke Sanam'. He has won many state awards for his Marathi film 'Devaki', and was the supervising director for animated film 'Hanuman'.

UNI