Having a process in the past that made it very difficult for foreign filmmakers to shoot in India, the government has taken steps to make it much easier and quicker to get things going.
P.R. Dasmunsi, minister of information and broadcasting, said that with the new system, the time it takes to process an application will be no more than three weeks. The process still must be done in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
With Bollywood coming of age and increased interest in filming in the country, the government hopes that this will help to encourage those that have hesitated in the past because of the enormous red tape and time factor.
The major caveat to all of this is that there will still be special permission needed if there are sensitive issues being involved in a film or if the film is to be shot in geographcically sensitive areas. With the sensitive issues defined as related to communal subjects, human rights, tribal, nuclear or defense, it doesn't leave an awful lot left to go quickly through the process. In those cases it will still take longer than the new streamlined process.
This should still be good news for the overall film industry around the world as a whole. India offers a lot of unique places that are very desirable to film in. It probably will help films more connected to comedy and love stories rather than ones that are trying to send a message.
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