Futile attempt to revive a dead concept?

Vijay Times, Sept 25, 2005

B D Narayankar

Bangalore: At a time when the filmmakers are relying on outdoor shooting, and using even foreign locales extensively , the State Go vernment is strangely enough, rooting for a Film City at H esarghatta. The go vernment has constituted a committee, headed by noted film critic V N Subba Rao to study the viability of Film City project. A decision would be taken based on its report, Information Minister B Shivaram told Vijay T imes. I have asked the committee to submit the report in a month. Shivaram said the Film City would be developed on a 202-acre land at H esarghatta which is in possession of Karnataka Film Development Corporation (KFDC). The land earlier belonged to Animal Husbandry department and was leased to KFDC for 99 years in 1972. H e expected another 100 acres to be acquired for setting up ’science city’. Though the proposal was yet to be cleared, he hoped the go vernment might appro ve the science city since it would be an added attraction for the people. The proposal for a Film City is, ho wever , being strongly opposed by a section of Kannada filmdom. The film city concept they say has lost its relevance in the present day context since almost all film-makers are no w shooting abroad -- not just in S witzerland as was the case earlier , but anywhere from Russia to N ew Zealand, Greece to South Africa, Italy to Australia, Thailand to Mauritius. Shooting abroad has almost become a status symbol for Kannada film-makers. F or instance, most of U pendra’s block busters like ’Raktakanneeru’ and ’Preetse’ were shot extensively in Australia, N ew Zealand and Europe. This being the case, it will be difficult for Film City to earn profit. There is much to learn from Ramoji Rao film city which, though Asia’s largest (spread o ver 2,000 acres), is losing its relevance. The condition of government-owned film cities in Chennai, M umbai and Bhubaneshwar is still worse,’’ the sources said. It is also a kno wn fact that, for want of response from film-makers, Ramoji Rao is seriously considering converting his film city into a tourist destination. H o wever , producer of famous Kannada film Bangarada Manushya Laxman differs. The Film City , he said, was not for earning profit but to promote Kannada films. H o w long will the film-makers shoot abroad? It is very costly proposition. The film city will survive If the go vernment extends all help . he said. P anel formed to study feasibility of Film City Planned in 202 acres in Hesarghatta Shooting abroad has become a status symbol