What is common between the bright and breezy Sahana Saaral Thoovudho and the stunning fight sequences in Rajini starrer Sivaji? Both were filmed in Hyderabad’s Ramoji Film City.
Not just Sivaji, several other Tamil films like blockbuster Anniyan and Ajith’s recent Billa-II had many scenes shot in the film city.
Armed with advanced film production facilities, the largest film studio complex in the world as certified by Guinness World Records continues to hold sway among Tamil film makers.
It is believed that, you walk in with a script and walk out of Ramoji with a film.
The idea of making it a holiday destination for various interest groups including children and providing a great ambience for corporate meetings has worked in favour of the studio.
Situated at Hayathnagar, 35 km from Hyderabad, Ramoji Film City is a dreamland that creates excitement for millions of visitors to enjoy and get entertained. With a heavenly charm, its every element— breathtaking sets, landscapes, etc. have unlimited fun options.
Pawan Kumar, Media Relations manager of Ramoji Film City said, “It was in the year 1996, Ramoji Rao dreamed this destination. Since he was a film producer, he had a rich knowledge about film production and the facilities required in the studio. But he did not stop with basic facilities of film production. He wanted to leave behind a landmark which the country will remember him for’. He took efforts to work out his dream. Thus ‘Ramoji Film City’ was born.”
It was an outcome of his production house Usha Kiran movies. The production company produced several movies in all the four South Indian languages”.
In the Tamil flick Anniyan, the scene where a railway canteen contractor was murdered in a train station was shot in one of the studios here. Some of the talkie portions of the Rajini starrer blockbuster film Enthiran was also shot here besides a song and fight scenes. The foot tapping number ‘Cinema Cinema’ in Kuselan was completely shot here.
But, how can one campus suit many film shooting at the same time?
“The film city differs from other film studios. The sets here, be it Moghul Garden or Masjid Galli or a small town in a city, they can be created and re-created. It is the USP of this film city” says, Thomas D’Souza a guide in the city. ‘‘One can realise their dream of making a movie in this film city,” he adds gleefully.
Today, the film city unravels the charm of film making at every stage through guided tours including, thrill rides and stunt shows.
With destinations like Ramoji Movie Magic where film making is experienced live by the tourists and Filmi Duniya where the tourists can take a tour ‘Around the World in Eight Minutes’ experiencing the world famous cities featured in famous movies, the studio provides a unique experience.
In Ramoji Tower tourists could even ‘feel’ the tremors and other acoustic effects. Vaman has over 150 bonsai plant collections and an amusing butterfly park that spreads over 7,200 square feet, including several species of butterflies in different colours. All such features, makes the film city a enjoyable holiday destination as well.
Pawan adds, “This 2,000 acre landscape attracts around 50,000 tourists in a month from all over the world ,every year. It earned a place in Guinness Record in 2005.”
A travel enthusiast or a film maker can surely trust this film city for fun and fine technologies.