Background check mandatory for new cine producers in Odisha

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Jun 17:

In the face of public backlash over involvement of chit fund business owners and fraudsters in Odisha movie industry, Utkal Cine Chamber of Commerce (UCCC) today announced a slew of measures including background verification for new producers.

Following a meeting of the producers’ body in Cuttack today, Chairman of UCCC Dillip Mishra announced the measures which includes noncooperation with six of the tainted producers.

“As of now, we are not in a position to find out who is a criminal and who is not. As the matter is already sub judice, we have little scope to take action against some of the producers with chit fund connection. However, all the support they were receiving from Utkal Cine Chamber of Commerce will be cut off effective today,” said Chairman Mishra.

“Further, we will cancel their membership if allegations against them are proven to be true and bar them from producing movies in Odisha. They would never be able to take membership here again,” he added.

Explaining the outcomes of the meeting, UCCC’s producer syndicate President Kusha Patnaik said that six of the producers with chit fund link such as Prabhas Rout, Gayadhar Jena, Niranjan Rana, Narayan Singh, Ratikant Kanungo and Sunil Panda would be denied all sorts of cooperation from UCCC.

UCCC also framed new rules for producers seeking membership of the association.

According to the new rules, bank statement, PAN card and NOC from police would be mandatory for the aspiring producers seeking membership. Besides, their sources of income would also be verified before they are accepted as members of UCCC.

Apart from the producers, the pay packages of the artists would be under scanner. The chamber would keep a tight vigil on the existing producers and scrutinize them as well.

The announcements of UCCC bear significance as the censor board requires a certificate from it before screening and clearing commercial movies in Odisha.