Viva la Vizag

With more and more filmmakers planning to invest in Vizag, the city seems set to be the new capital for the Telugu film industry after Hyderabad.

Megastar Chiranjeevi too is apparently planning to construct a studio in Vizag. Meanwhile Suresh Babu has established Rama Naidu Studios where films are already being shot. Apart from studios, many leading producers have evinced interest in investing in Vizag. Nagarjuna has also recently started a film distribution business in Vizag.

Confirming the reports, minister Ghanta Srinivasa Rao says that he has spoken to many leading producers and directors.

“Vizag is the perfect place for film shooting. I spoke to many leading producers in Telugu cinema and invited them. I also spoke to the president of the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce about the industry’s future course of action to develop Vizag as the next capital for the Telugu film industry,” he says.

Though the industry may not shift immediately after bifurcation, the trend has already started with many Telugu films being shot there. In fact, some of the biggest hits of recent times have been shot in Vizag.

From Chiranjeevi to Varun Sandesh, and directors like K. Viswanath, Raghavendra Rao and K. Balachandar, their favourite shooting ground is Vizag. “The value of land is very high now and if the government comes forward and further subsidises it, then many will look into it,” says Suresh Babu adding that the city is perfect for shooting with its scenic beauty like the sea, greenery, hills etc.

“I told the producers and other film personalities that the government would provide everything for them. The initiative has already started and discussions are going on. Once the process starts, more and more people will come,” adds Srinivasa Rao.

He had even arranged for a few children’s films to be screened in Vizag. “Yes, I told the Chief Minister that the film festival should spread to other cities. So I organised a few films to be screened in Vizag. Also we are going to build a Rs 35-crore full-fledged auditorium for the children’s film festival,” he adds.

When asked whether he was also planning a studio, he denied the same but added that actor Ram Charan had show interest. “He is keen to construct a studio in Vizag. Discussions are going on,” he says.

Thammareddy Bharadwaj feels it would be good if Vizag developed as another hub for Tollywood as the city would become another big revenue centre after Hyderabad. “A few filmmakers are already established here and many films are also being shot. Once the filmmakers start investing, the city and the surrounding area will develop. The theatres will increase and it’s going to be good for the industry,” he says, adding that it all depended on the government and the subsidies. “Every year we are making around 150 films now and this number may go up to around 250 with this,” says Thammareddy.

Ghanta Srinivasa Rao, meanwhile, is arranging a summit on November 30 in Vizag says. “I am inviting all the leading producers and directors for this and will discuss the problems they are facing. We will also discuss the measures to be taken to establish Vizag as the best option for the industry,” he says.

Wherever the capital of the new state might be, industry people feel that Vizag is the best for Tollywood as it suits their needs perfectly.

The real estate boom has already started in Vizag and prices have gone up further since the bifurcation announcement. And it will go up more after the Telugu film industry starts investing here, say sources.

Land and new studions

• V.V. Vinayak owns V Max theatres and has also invested in land.
• Director Teja has a theatre and some land.
• Puri Jagannath, who is from Vizag, owns land and a theatre in Narsipatnam.
• Allu Aravind owns some theatres and also land.
• Dil Raju has theatres on lease and plans to buy land.
• Ram Charan wants to construct a studio.