<p>The state government has not shelved Mysuru as a possible location for a big-ticket film city project, with Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa’s plan to set one up at the Roerich and Devikarani Estate facing a legal tangle. </p>.<p>In fact, the tourism department has identified Mysuru as the ideal location for the project. </p>.<p>According to a report that global consultancy Ernst & Young had prepared for the Tourism department, a film city on a 110-acre plot already identified in Immavu village of Nanjangud taluk in Mysuru can produce 23 films every year. Also, Mysuru offers filmmakers at least 16 shoot locations within a 100 km radius, allowing the film city to double up as a tourist location, the report states.</p>.<p>“We are aware that much work has already gone into the Mysuru film city plan. We are still considering it,” Tourism Minister C T Ravi told <span class="italic">DH</span>.</p>.<p>“As far as the Roerich estate plan goes, the chief secretary has asked the advocate-general for a legal opinion. The estate must be used only for purposes as was desired by the family,” he said, hinting at possible obstacles.</p>.<p>“But Mysuru or Bengaluru, we want to have a film city nonetheless.” </p>.<p>A draft feasibility report on the Mysuru film city was submitted in March 2018. Earlier this year, the firm gave a project status update in which Mysuru is reiterated as a “favoured location”.</p>.<p>According to the existing plan, the Mysuru film city will cost about Rs 380 crore and it will provide direct employment during peak operations to 1,700 people.</p>.<p>The film city is to have production and post-production zones for filmmaking, a hospitality zone, a film training/experience zone and an entertainment zone. In terms of area, the Mysuru film city can surpass Pinewood Studios, London, and Universal Studio, Singapore. </p>.<p>Even as the Mysuru plan took shape, the H D Kumaraswamy-led Congress-JD(S) coalition announced a film city in Ramanagara. Last month, Yediyurappa proposed setting up an international film city at the 468.33-acre Roerich estate.</p>.<p>“We had everything planned. It was to be a circuit where tourists can experience adventure sports in Ramanagara and then head to Mysuru. Traditionally, the problem with Mysuru has been that tourists don’t stay over. A film city in Mysuru would not only give professionalism to the cinema industry, but also give tourists a reason to spend a night there,” former tourism minister Priyank Kharge, who anchored the plan when in office, said.</p>
<p>The state government has not shelved Mysuru as a possible location for a big-ticket film city project, with Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa’s plan to set one up at the Roerich and Devikarani Estate facing a legal tangle. </p>.<p>In fact, the tourism department has identified Mysuru as the ideal location for the project. </p>.<p>According to a report that global consultancy Ernst & Young had prepared for the Tourism department, a film city on a 110-acre plot already identified in Immavu village of Nanjangud taluk in Mysuru can produce 23 films every year. Also, Mysuru offers filmmakers at least 16 shoot locations within a 100 km radius, allowing the film city to double up as a tourist location, the report states.</p>.<p>“We are aware that much work has already gone into the Mysuru film city plan. We are still considering it,” Tourism Minister C T Ravi told <span class="italic">DH</span>.</p>.<p>“As far as the Roerich estate plan goes, the chief secretary has asked the advocate-general for a legal opinion. The estate must be used only for purposes as was desired by the family,” he said, hinting at possible obstacles.</p>.<p>“But Mysuru or Bengaluru, we want to have a film city nonetheless.” </p>.<p>A draft feasibility report on the Mysuru film city was submitted in March 2018. Earlier this year, the firm gave a project status update in which Mysuru is reiterated as a “favoured location”.</p>.<p>According to the existing plan, the Mysuru film city will cost about Rs 380 crore and it will provide direct employment during peak operations to 1,700 people.</p>.<p>The film city is to have production and post-production zones for filmmaking, a hospitality zone, a film training/experience zone and an entertainment zone. In terms of area, the Mysuru film city can surpass Pinewood Studios, London, and Universal Studio, Singapore. </p>.<p>Even as the Mysuru plan took shape, the H D Kumaraswamy-led Congress-JD(S) coalition announced a film city in Ramanagara. Last month, Yediyurappa proposed setting up an international film city at the 468.33-acre Roerich estate.</p>.<p>“We had everything planned. It was to be a circuit where tourists can experience adventure sports in Ramanagara and then head to Mysuru. Traditionally, the problem with Mysuru has been that tourists don’t stay over. A film city in Mysuru would not only give professionalism to the cinema industry, but also give tourists a reason to spend a night there,” former tourism minister Priyank Kharge, who anchored the plan when in office, said.</p>
