Yash Chopra appeals audience to stop protests

Bollywood doyen and FICCI Entertainment Committee Chairman Yash Chopra has appealed to the Indian audience to stop protesting against films, leading to state specific film bans. He also appealed the Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting Anand Sharma to make sure that films certified by the Indian Censor Board, the apex film certification body, were not banned by Central or State Governments.

Addressing the inaugural session of FICCI Frames '09, Chopra said, "If a group has problem with a movie, it should go to the censor board for their objection. People need to understand that a lot of hard work and money goes in making a movie," said Chopra.

Chopra also added that the Indian entertainment industry is not immune to the current recessionary trend and that it is time for the industry to come together. "This is a very bad year for the entertainment industry overall and the film industry is feeling the pain of the recession. It's time to think, restructure and reorganise things in this time of correction. Whatever happens, loss or profit, we have learnt lessons in the past."

On unrest among technical workforce in the TV and film industries, Chopra added, "It is time for sectors within the film industry to come together and sacrifice so that the industry can live tomorrow and survive. It's not a time for confrontation or egos. I know money is important; but films are not made by money but by creativity and talent which we are very good at."

"FICCI Frames has been growing year on year and its 10th edition undoubtedly shows that. We can see growth in the number of delegates and even in the number of the countries participating", he added.

The inaugural session at 10th FICCI Frames, Mumbai, also saw Chairman of FICCI Entertainment Committee Yash Chopra passing on the baton to eminent filmmaker Karan Johar, who will now be Co-Chairman of the committee along with Sony Entertainment Network CEO Kunal Dasgupta.

An elated Karan said, "I am honoured and grateful to be a part of FICCI. It was my father's dream that I should be close to Indian stalwarts like Manmohan Shetty, Amit Khanna and Yash Chopra amongst others. I am only taking his dream forward. I thank FICCI for taking care of everyone in the Indian film industry and leading it to the global platform."