The much-awaited makeover of Chitranjali Studio in at Thiruvallam near Thiruvananthapuram, which was once the cradle of film-making, will begin this week. Owned by the Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC), the studio is the first-of-its-kind in the country, a public sector undertaking for film development. However, with the advent of new film studios and shifting of the shooting base to Kochi, the glory of Chitranjali waned a bit.
“The renovation of studio will begin this week. We have already allotted tender for works worth Rs 1 crore, that will mainly focus on remodelling the floors and enhancing the existing facilities to modern standards. The main office of the studio will also be renovated,” said KSFDC chairman Sabu Cheriyan.
Regarding KSFDC plans to set up a film city at Ottappalam, Cheriyan said the government had already sanctioned Rs 1 crore for the project.
“Official procedures for taking over of four acres of land owned by the Irrigation Department along the Ottappalam-Palakkad stretch will be completed soon. The proposed film city in Palakkad will have a modern shooting floor. The existing quarters at the land will be renovated,” he said. About plans to set up a film city and amusement park at Chitranjali Studio, Cheriyan said the project would be carried out as a joint venture. The plan is to set up Rs 450-crore park in 50 acres of land at Thiruvallam. The proposed film city will be equipped with post-production solutions, modern cameras, crane, track and trolley and mobile units.
The film city is planned on the lines of Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad. Cheriyan said the renovated theatres, Kairali and Sree in Kozhikode, will be reopened during the Onam season. “The renovated theatres will have plush interiors and excellent ambience for an enhanced film-viewing experience,” he added.