JK govt not paid money to Muzaffer Ali for film on "Zooni"

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir government today said it has not paid any amount to a film producer for making a documentary on legendary poetess Habba Khatoon alias "Zooni" but stood guarantor for the project.

On a question by PDP member Peerzada Manzoor Hussain, Tourism and Culture Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora told the Assembly that a tripartite agreement was signed among the state of Jammu and Kashmir as guarantor, M/s Integrated Films and Punjab National Bank on October 28, 1988 for making a documentary on Zooni on the request of Muzaffer Ali. Subsequently, a deed of guarantee was issued by the state government through commissioner-secretary tourism for an amount of Rs 50 lakhs and later on December 8, 1989, an additional guarantee of Rs 20 lakhs was also extended by the government, he said. The government has not paid any amount to Ali, proprietor of M/s Integrated Films, who wanted to produce the film, but it stood guarantor for the Rs 70 lakhs loan taken for the project by the film company as it had historical, cultural and tourism significance for the state. However, the film could not be completed because of the onset of militancy in the state nor was the loan amount repaid to the bank by the filmmaker, the minister said. He said as a result the bank authorities have filed a suit against Ali and the state and the matter is subjudice in the court. Bureau Report