Dream City for Kerala film-makers

KOCHI:  The Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation  has begun the countdown for the tender process and the feasibility study report of a Rs 450-crore Film City and Amusement Park that are  to come up in 50 acres of land in the Chitranjali Studio, Thiruvananthapuram. A global tender is getting ready to be floated in the next three months.A public-private partnership (PPP) venture by the Kerala State Film Development Corporation, the Film City will have all the requisite advanced equipment for film-making such as modern cameras, crane, track and trolley, mobile units and the latest post-production solutions. Presently, Malayalam film-makers depend on studios in Chennai and Mumbai for meeting post-production requirements. It was Minister (films) K B Ganesh Kumar’s plan to set up a miniature of Hyderabad-based Ramoji Rao Film City in Kerala.“The expected cost for setting up the Film City and Amusement Park is estimated at `450 crore, out of which KSFDC’s share is slated to be  `150 crore, which would be brought by way of land. The rest would be raised from private equity,” said KSFDC chairman Sabu Cheriyan.“The idea to attach an amusement park to the film city was taken in view of the  location’s proximity to Kovalam, which is already a major tourist draw. The park will ensure that the facility generates daily income even when there is no shooting. The finer details of the project can be finalised only after the completion of the feasibility study,” he said.Director Shafi, who had to depend hugely on the Ramoji Rao Film City, Hyderabad for his movie Makeup Man, could not hide his glee. “If Malayalam film industry is offered such facilities in Thiruvananthapuram, most of the film-makers would only be too happy to make use of  the opportunity. It is very much a welcome move,” he said.The KSFDC is also planning to construct 30 theatre complexes across the state within the next four years. Many city corporations and municipalities have already expressed their willingness to hand over land to start the theatre complexes.