Producers’ guild says Board asking them to cough up more money
Sonali Joshi Pitale (MID-DAY; August 12, 2016)

A recent meeting of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) witnessed high-voltage drama as members disagreed with chairperson Pahlaj Nihalani on a range of issues, including a new strategy to avoid prerelease piracy of films — producers now have to submit films through a DCP format instead of DVDs. While the Indian Film and Television Producers Council (IFTPC) has welcomed the move, the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA) has raised concerns over this “expensive” option.

T P Aggarwal, president of IMPPA, argued, “Our guild consists of over 10,000 producers and they are all against this new rule. Converting films to DCP format will cost Rs 60,000-70,000. This will burn a hole in the pockets of small-time and regional filmmakers, who work around a modest budget. Not just that, if the Board recommends any cuts or asks for incorporating a disclaimer or statutory warning, the producers will have to go through the exorbitant process all over again for a second screening of their films", said Aggarwal.

IMPPA has written a series of letters to the CBFC, underlining their concerns over the new format. Aggarwal said, “We have also written to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry about this issue and are waiting for their response.”

Nihalani, in return, argued, “I am doing my job for CBFC and not for IMPPA.” CBFC member Vaani Tripathi Tikoo, supporting the decision, however, said, “It is not compulsory for producers to send their film in DCP format; they send it on DVDs, we will see it. However, it is about safeguarding them in which the IFTPC has supported us. If their film leaks online, they will end up losing crores, so it is better to spend some money on DCP.”

Sunil Baghel (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 9, 2014)

The Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association (IMPPA), one of the leading bodies of Hindi film producers, has been rendered completely toothless, as far as legal enforceability of its orders is concerned.

On Monday, April 7, Justice B P Colabawalla, while deciding the long standing dispute between actor Sanjay Dutt and producer Shakeel Noorani, stated that that the ‘proceedings’ carried out by IMPPA to resolve disputes are not enforceable by a court of law.

The court stated that the organisation is merely a “private tribunal” and its decision in disputes is not a “legally enforceable remedy.”

The court’s further observation could sound the death knell for the body as Justice Colabawalla added that any “arbitration agreement” spelt out from the rules and by-laws of IMPPA, will make no difference unless the person against whom such an order is passed is a member of the body.

As only film producers are IMPPA members, none of the organisation’s dictates will affect the other members of the film industry, including actors, directors and technicians among others.

It all started when Noorani approached the Bombay High Court seeking to execute an order passed by IMPPA against Dutt in January 2010. Noorani had approached IMPAA claiming that Dutt had accepted an advance of Rs 50 lakh to act in one of his productions, titled Jaan Ki Baazi. The actor allegedly shot for a few days and then did not allot any further dates to the film. According to IMPAA’s order, Dutt was supposed to allot 30 days of shooting to Noorani within 15 days from the date of receipt of the order. In case he failed, he had to return the remuneration, plus Rs. 1.53 crores alleged losses caused to Noorani as he had to stop production of the movie. In October 2010, Noorani approached the High Court’s execution department, seeking the payments or the attachment of Dutt’s Pali Hill flat – the one where the actor resides with his family.

But thanks to the court’s latest order, Dutt will not be effected by any of IMPAA’s past dictates. "The respondent (Dutt) not being a member of IMPPA, nor agreeing to be bound by its rules and by-laws, would not be bound by any such agreement or decision rendered by IMPPA under it’s own rules and by-laws,” the court observed.

Seems, the decision has gone down with no opposition from the film fraternity. Producer Ramesh Taurani said that the court has always directed them to IMPAA during conflicts. “And now that the same court has stripped the organisation of its powers, we will simply abide by the court's new decision.” Senior producer Pahlaj Nihalani too said that they will abide by the new rule, while IMPAA chief T P Aggarwal chose not to respond.

Bharati Dubey (MID-DAY; March 15, 2014)

The Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA) has issued a show cause notice to singer Mika Singh for allegedly insulting the film industry at a recent public event. A source says that at a recent award function held in Punjab, Mika declared that in his absence, the film industry comes to a standstill.

Understandably, this comment was not liked by some film industry personalities who were present at the function, including veteran actor Dharmendra.

T P Aggarwal, IMPPA president, says, “A man should never forget his roots. Mika shouldn’t have made such a statement – it was in bad taste. I got word about his statements from some politicians who were present at the function. I am told that Dharmendraji too didn’t approve of his statement.” Aggarwal adds that as someone who achieved success thanks to the film industry, it was not right of Mika to look down upon the same. “People who think of themselves as the be all and end all of the industry have ended up as miserable failures. Mika should apologise for his rash behaviour and we hope he will not say such a thing ever again.”

Industry sources say that this is not the first time Mika has behaved in such a manner. At another function held earlier this year, he apparently said that other singers only get work because he (Mika) is too busy to take on any other project. He is also believed to have said that most other singers sound like him, hinting that they copy his style. Mika remained unavailable for comment.