One of Bollywood’s most popular filming destinations will soon have its own integrated studio complex. Uttarakhand’s new Film City will reportedly house various production facilities and government officials have been tasked with narrowing down a location. Here’s what we know of the project so far. By Eshita Srinivas
Serving as the picturesque backdrop to a range of popular features – from Bimal Roy’s Madhumati in 1958 to Karan Johar’s Student Of The Year in 2012 – Uttarakhand is a filming paradise. Building on that, Special Principal Secretary Abhinav Kumar held a meeting with officials of the information department at Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s camp office recently. During the meet, he asked officials to develop a plan of action for an integrated Film City, complete with industry-related infrastructure.
Uttarakhand’s Film City will feature several production facilities
Uttarakhand Special Principal Secy Abhinav Kumar took a review meeting of the Info Dept in Dehradun. In the meeting, he said that land should be selected for film city in Uttarakhand and an action plan should be prepared for infrastructure development related to film industry. pic.twitter.com/WUlT3GJsdy
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) July 12, 2022
Although not much is known about the features of the complex so far, reports state that the space would have all necessary shooting and production facilities. Typically, a Film City spreads over ten or more acres and has all the physical equipment and other necessities for filmmaking, including curated outdoor spaces.
That aside, a plan will also be worked out for providing subsidies for mobile theatres in hilly regions and border areas. This, especially for films that are based on the dialects and languages of Uttarakhand, selected for screening at national and international film festivals, Economic Times notes. In addition to this, Kumar also asked officials to consult a national-level film training institute to work towards establishing a branch in the mountain state. Meanwhile, courses related to filmmaking might be introduced in universities as well.
Uttarakhand’s popularity as a shooting location is courtesy of its concessions under the single-window clearance system, Zee News states. Developed by the state government, the portal provides easy access to investors regarding new policies, incentive schemes, and infrastructure availability.
Representative image: Shutterstock
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