Film hub: Focus on Vizag again

Visakhapatnam: Gifted with natural harbour, long coastline, stretches of greenery, golden sand beaches and picturesque locales, Visakhapatnam has a huge potential to offer a perfect setting for filmmakers to shoot movies.

Unfortunately, not many producers are evincing interest in availing the ecosystem in the district for their ventures. Though blockbuster flicks such as 'MaroCharitra', 'Anthuleni Katha', 'NaluguStambhalata', 'SrivarikiPremalekha', 'Swarna Kamalam' and 'Jamba LakidiPamba' were shot in Visakhapatnam, their success, however, did not spur any major filmy activity.

Even the studio built by producer late D. Ramanaidu in the city is lying idle for long.Against this backdrop, focus is again shifting on Vizag with Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy expressing keenness on shooting films in the City of Destiny and making it a hub of cine activity. The Chief Minister, during the recent talks he had with the topmen from Tollywood, advised the team to consider his suggestion of promising allotment of sites to film personalities for construction of studios, outdoor units and houses and shifting their base to the port city. Like Hyderabad in Telangana, the Chief Minister suggested the bigwigs of the Telugu film industry to make Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh their home.To make this a reality, the Chief Minister assured all sorts of support, including site allotment to set up conducive infrastructure in the port city.

Much later, Movie Artistes Association (MAA) President Manchu Vishnu mentioned that the government's proposal will be discussed with the representatives of the film chamber and a decision would soon be made whether to shift lock, stock and barrel or consider relocation in parts.Even during the TDP's regime, the government made an effort to set up a film city in Vizag but eventually, the proposal ended up gathering dust.Endowed with natural scenic beauty, Visakhapatnam is convenient for the filmmakers in terms of transport, accommodation and coastline-dominated ambience.

If the Telugu film industry gets shifted to the port city, there is a larger scope for making movies amid picturesque locales that would not only help cut costs but also create hundreds of employment opportunities. "Those associated with the 24 crafts of the cinema and its allied sectors would largely be benefited if Visakhapatnam is made a film hub.

Also, the shift would be lucrative for small budget film-makers. More importantly, the City of Destiny will get global recognition if the film activity picks up pace," says Chaitanya Janga, president of Film and Television Promotion Council of Andhra Pradesh.A film federation branch would soon be launched in the city. "With Visakhapatnam gaining prominence for apparent reasons, there is a higher possibility of the actors shifting to the port city as amenities would be developed to cater to the needs of the film-makers," says D Satyanarayana, film production executive.

On one hand, the government is clearing the decks to make Visakhapatnam as the executive capital of the state, while pulling out all stops to make the city a film hub on the other. With the proposal on shifting the cinema industry to the port city gaining momentum, its landscape is all set to transform in the days to come.