The Uri Touch: As Modi Inaugurates India’s First National Museum Of Indian Cinema, Audience Responds With ‘High Josh’

Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s first National Museum of Indian Cinema (NMIC) in Mumbai on Saturday (19 January), reports Times of India.

Hailing the “silent power” of films that quietly influences the public’s thought process, PM Modi said that films facilitate major social changes and boost development in the country.

PM Modi greeted the audience ‘Uri’ style, "How's the josh?", he asked, with the audience replying with laughter and enthusiasm, “High”.

The Prime Minister hailed the determination of ‘New India’, saying, “ We are not overawed by problems, but work to resolve them,” adding that films with social messages like the need for toilets can catch the popular imagination.

He said the rise of young artists from small towns creating waves in Bollywood is a sign of changing times, of New India. “Our strength is now coming out of such small places. This is a sign of changing times and society, problems are being portrayed along with solutions, obstacles are being removed, millions problems have billion solutions,” he said.

PM Modi also hailed the TV serials like Ramayana, saying that they are becoming increasingly popular abroad. He lauded the role of films in promoting tourism sector, which gives employment to even the poorest people. “Even 'chaiwala' makes money when tourism grows," he said.

The Prime Minister assured the industry of government's full support. His proposals included setting up a university for films and entertainment, laws to tackle the challenges encountered by filmmakers including piracy, and the future of digital and social media vis-a-vis films.

He said that a single-window system for obtaining permissions for film shoots and related matters is in the offing, and suggested holding a global film summit in India on the lines of World Economic Forum summit in Davos.

The opening was attended by Bollywood bigwigs like Karan Johar, Aamir Khan, Anand L Rai, Rohit Shetty, A R Rahman, Asha Bhosle, and veteran actor Manoj Kumar, apart from Information & Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Central Board of Film Certification chief Prasoon Joshi.