MUMBAI: That there is a dearth of good scripts can be well fathomed from the fact that in the last six months, there have been more flops than hits in the Indian film industry. Even the backing of big production houses with mammoth budgets failed to set cash resgisters ringing at the box office.

At a time like this, filmmaker and Mukta Arts chairman Subhash Ghai has announced an open offer of Rs 10 million (Rs 1 crore) to a screenwriter who can bring forth a complete, bound script that the company’s selection committee feels fit to acquire on the first hearing.

“If we say that we are perpetually on the lookout for good scripts then why can’t we put our money where our mouth is and pay Rs 1 crore (Rs 10 million) for a brilliant script, which according to me is a fair price, especially when we are going to spend Rs 25 – 50 crores (Rs 250 – 500 million) to produce the film,” reasons Ghai.

Other than this, Whistling Woods International Film and Television Institute, promoted by Mukta Arts, has also extended scholarships and special loans to promising applicants for the screenwriting program.

“Screenwriting is going to be the highest paid profession in media in the near future. Hence now is the appropriate time for the youth of today to understand the importance of this profession and consider it seriously. The writer is the real creator of media – be it films, TV or animation,” he adds.

Currently Mukta Arts already has a wing dedicatedly working towards story development of films produced by the company.