Film body's new chief to focus on Chitranagari

KOLHAPUR: Completing the pending Chitranagari work and taking up the issues of pension and houses for senior artists would be the priority of noted actor and director Vjiay Patkar, who has taken charge as president of the Akhil Bhartiya Marathi Chitrapat Mahamandal (ABMCM) here on Saturday evening.
Addressing the media after taking charge, Patkar said, "Keeping aside the controversies over the post of the president of the ABMCM, I will do some constructive work to address the problems faced by technicians and artists who play an important role in film making.My focus will be on completion of the work of the Chitranagari so that Marathi producers will be able to shoot their films there."
A body of 14 directors elects the president of the ABMCM and the post is for five years. In December 2010, Prasad Surve was selected as president of the organization. But he resigned on August 2, 2013 following allegations of financial irregularities during a cultural event in Pune in 2012.
Later, Vijay Kondke and Vijay Patkar had contested for the post but both received equal number of votes. The directors' body then came up with a formula, dividing the remaining two-year term between the tow contenders.
Subhash Bhurke, secretary of the ABMCM, said: "The directors have nominated Kondke as president for the first year and, after expiring his term, we have selected Patkar as president for the next year."
Patkar, who has completed more than 25 years in the film industry, is famous for comic roles and timing in the films. He has worked in blockbuster Hindi films 'Golmaal', 'All The Best', 'Apna Sapna Money Money' and 'Singham' and many Marathi films like 'Navra Majha Navasacha'.
The 15,713-member ABMCM comprises artists, directors, producers and backstage workers from the Marathi film industry.