THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala State Film Development Corporation’s (KSFDC) Chitranjali Studio at Thiruvallom, near here, which is undergoing a major modernisation drive, can now boast of a state-of-the-art Digital Intermediate Studio, Green Matte Studio, Film Vault and a Film Museum.
Minister for Sports and Cinema Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan will inaugurate these latest facilities at Chitranjali Studio Complex at 4 pm on Thursday. Two newly-procured buses to be used for outdoor shoots will also be launched on the occasion, KSFDC chairman Rajmohan Unnithan told a news conference.
Shashi Tharoor MP, V Sivankutty MLA, Mayor V K Prasanth and actor Manju Warrier will be present on the occasion. Filmmaker I V Sasi, who won the J C Daniel Award, will be felicitated on the occasion. Veteran actor Madhu will lay the foundation stone of a ‘Removable and re-adjustable set’ at the studio complex.
“By bringing all these latest facilities to Chitranjali, we want to make the studio complex a hub of cutting-edge film production in south India,” said Unnithan. KSFDC will also ensure that producers who avail the KSFDC production package will be provided theatres to exhibit their films.
The KSFDC chairman said that the office of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) which was shifted to Thiruvallom will be brought back to Kalabhavan theatre, adjacent to the KSFDC office, by March 1. A home theatre with all modern facilities will be set up at the top floor of Kalabhavan theatre for CBFC screening till a permanent facility is ready, he added.
The Digital Intermediate Studio and Green Matte studio will help attract all kinds of filmmakers, including makers of big budget films. Technicians who are proficient in the latest technology have been recruited in these studios.
The Film Vault, to be named after the late filmmaker P Bhaskaran, will be used to store rare negatives of yesteryear films.
“The Film Museum will be named after former Chief Minister K Karunakaran, who played a key role in bringing various offices associated with films under one umbrella,” said Unnithan said. KSFDC also plans to take on lease two floors of the renovated KSRTC bus depot complex at Thampanoor to set up theatres, he added.
He also said that KSFDC was engaged in discussions with the government to designate it as a nodal agency for coordinating film shoots in other countries. Discussions have also been held with representatives of Canadian film industry in this regard, he said.
Asked about his plans for the upcoming Assembly election, Unnithan said that if the Congress party decides to give him a seat in Kollam, he would definitely contest. “However, I will not engage in any sort of lobbying for an Assembly seat as I am too old for all that,” Unnithan said in a lighter vein.
‘Chitranjali 2.0, Powered By KSFDC’
Digital Intermediate & Green Matte Studio at Chitranjali
Film Museum & Film Vault will also come up
Film Museum to be named after former CM K Karunakaran
CBFC office to be re-located to Kalabhavan Theatre in the city
Minister for Sports and Cinema Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan to inaugurate the latest facilities at Chitranjali Studio Complex at 4 pm today