Govt justifies Rs 2.20 crore for Rock On 2

SHILLONG: With controversy surrounding the sanction of over Rs 2 crore to the Rock On 2 team by the Tourism department, the State government claimed that the intention was to woo tourists to the State.
“60 per cent of the film was shot in Meghalaya and this will be a means to promote tourism,” a government official said on Sunday.
According to the official, while other states spend crores of rupees in the print and electronic media for the tourism promotion, the Tourism department depended on Rock On 2 to promote the State.
Earlier, the reply to the RTI query by a Khasi daily had revealed that Tourism department had funded the film at the cost of Rs 2.20 crore, evoking criticism from local filmmakers in the State.       Meghalaya Film Makers’ Association had slammed the government for the undue favour showered on Rock On 2 while the local film makers are yet to get any assistance from the government.
The Tourism department had signed an MOU with Excel Entertainment Pvt. Limited for the total monetary sponsorship of Rs 2.20 crore for the movie.
As per the MoU, one of the obligations of the producers of the film is that a 60 second commercial in 35 MM format as provided by the Directorate of Tourism 12 weeks prior to the release of the movie will be attached along with the master negative of the movie and “shall be screened before the start of the movie in all formats except theatrical exhibition”.