Row over production cost of CM’s TV show

Mumbai: The production cost of the Maharashtra government’s flagship TV programme, Mi Mukhyamantri Boltoy (Myself, CM speaking), has triggered a controversy. The advertisement and production cost for each episode of the programme is around Rs 26 lakh. The programme is being telecast on various news channels. Posters and other advertisement mediums have been used to inform the people about the programme. The production cost and advertising budget is around Rs 10 lakh and Rs 16 lakh per episode respectively. “This budget exceeds standard market rates” claimed Nawab Malik, a spokesperson of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

The cost is quoted in the government’s GR. But the government claimed that the cost of the programme is not huge. “If you see the market rates, ours are very less. Qualitative post-production of such programmes needs big money. We are rather doing it at comparatively low cost,” said directorate general of Information and Public Relations (DGIPR) DG Brijesh Singh.

Mi  Mukhyamantri Boltoy is a TV show in which chief minister Devendra Fadnavis addresses questions about the government’s schemes. According to GR of the government dated October 5, production, telecasting and publicity of each episode of the programme along with Jai Maharashtra, a chat show with ministers and Dilkhulas, which is a radio show with officials costs Rs 27.09 lakh.  Interestingly, the state government has its own studio and camera set-up. The yearly cost of all three projects is Rs 4.45 crore.

The production cost of Rs 10 lakh includes scriptwriting, makeup, colour correction, grading, montage music, montage editing, floor manager, light man, etc. The GR also states that publicity of the shows including advertisements costs Rs 16.34 lakh.

The government’s publicity department has called the budget as necessary and lower than the market price. “Check the market rates. In comparison, our cost of production is low. And also with such a low cost, we are trying to maintain high standard quality and professionalism,” Mr Singh said.