In the recent days, Bollywood celebrities were flying on and off for a meeting with the Prime Minister to discuss the issues on reducing GST on movie tickets and on the film industry’s contribution towards the betterment of the nation. On Saturday, it was the PM who flew to Mumbai, to inaugurate the National Museum of Indian Cinema and address the film fraternity. The inauguration ceremony was attended by a host of Bollywood stars including veteran actor Manoj Kumar, Aamir Khan, Kangana Ranaut, filmmaker Karan Johar, Simmba director Rohit Shetty and Zero director Aanand L Rai. Poonam Dhillion also attended the event along with producers Nikhil Dwivedi and Mahavir Jain.

According to a report in the Times of India, the museum is built across two buildings - a five-storey new museum building and Gulshan Mahal that is over 100 years old. The museum showcases the visitors on a journey from the silent era of the Indian cinema to the current hi-tech studios. The museum consists of four halls named Gandhi and Cinema, Children’s Film Studio, Technology, Creativity and Indian Cinema and Cinema across India. It is also reported that a committee headed by the Central Board of Film Certification chief Prasoon Joshi helped upgrade NMIC. The museum is said to house artefacts, cameras, editing and recording machines, projectors, costumes, photographs related to filmmaking in India.

The Prime Minister spoke on a range of topics like the importance of cinema in society, how films play an important role in the country’s soft power and how popular they are overseas. He assured the film industry that his government is taking steps to curb piracy and “camcording”.

PM Narendra Modi inaugurates the National Museum of Indian Cinema

He also spoke about the recent trends in Indian cinema. “This shows India is changing. Earlier, poverty was considered a virtue… Films were about poverty, helplessness. Now, along with problems, solutions are also being seen. If there are a million problems, there are a billion solutions,” he said. He also urged filmmakers to make films on history as well as science and innovation. He said, “Film personalities should tell youngsters, through social media, about their hardships and struggle before they made it big so as to inspire them, he said. “This will help our youth in their life-building, character-building and prevent them from going astray.”

“Films also play a big role in the growth of the tourism sector, which gives employment to even the poorest people, even ‘chaiwala’ makes money when tourism grows,” he said.

Many celebs took to social media to post pictures with the Prime Minister. Comedian Kapil Sharma posted on Twitter, “Respected pm Sh @narendramodi ji, it was nice meeting u n great knowing ur inspiring ideas and progressive views about our film industry and our nation. N sir I must say u have a great sense of humor too! regards.”

Mohit Raina, who currently stars in military drama Uri wrote on Instagram : “Witnessed a surreal moment, after inaugurating the National Museum of Indian Cinema, while addressing the Film Fraternity The Honourable Prime Minister Modi ji asked everyone How is the Josh, instantly came a roaring High Sir from the likes of Rajyavardhan Rathore Sir, Lata Mangeshkar ji, Manoj Kumar ji, Prasoon Joshi ji, Shyam Benegal ji, Bhupen Hazarika ji, A R Rahman Sahab, Subhash Ghai ji, Aanand Rai ji, Aamir Khan ji And the list goes on. A pat on the Back Team Uri. Gratitude.”