Bhubaneswar: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik has set up a ministerial committee to prepare a draft policy for the development of Odia film industry.

Naveen has asked the panel to submit its report to the government within one month with suggestions to be taken for the purpose. Finance minister Sashi Bhushan Behera, micro small and medium enterprises minister Prafulla Samal and industries minister Anant Das are members of the committee.

The draft proposal outlining the scope, roles and responsibilities will be prepared by the committee. "It will examine various problems being faced by the Odia cinema industry and recommend measures to be taken for the same," said Behera.

Naveen discussed the issues the industry is facing. Among others, Odisha Film Development Corporation chairman Kuna Tripathy, development commissioner R. Balakrishnan and senior officials of the line departments were present during the meeting.

Special focus will be given on the renovation of the Kalinga Studio, which has been languishing because of the lack of patronage. It has been long since the state's only film studio is lying almost in ruins. The film fraternity here welcomed the move of the state government and hoped that the arc lights would once again shine at the hallowed studio.

"Earlier this studio used to attract many film-makers from outside, but lack of patronage from the government badly affected it. Along with its renovation, many other aspects should be taken care of. This studio needs to have corporate style management that would attract film-makers from Odisha as well as outside and generate revenue," said film-maker Amartya Bhattacharya.

Steps will also be mentioned in the policy for the development of the corporation, which had been set up in 1976 as the nodal agency for all-round development of Odia cinema.

Film critic Dilip Halli suggested for more number of theatres.

"We need more than 200 cinemas, especially in the rural areas. Since urban people have more access to gadgets, they can watch films on even laptops or mobile phones at their homes. But, that's always not the case with the rural audience," he said. Though there were more than 280 permanent and temporary theatres registered, the number reduced to 140 soon after the super cyclone of 1999.