Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the redeveloped Kalinga Studio here on Monday. The State government had sanctioned Rs 164 crore to develop the iconic studio with all modern facilities.
“The state government has a plan to develop Kalinga Studio into a world-class facility. The government will take the necessary steps to bring a new policy with regard to the movie sector by 2027. We are also mulling to hold an international film festival in Odisha,” said the Chief Minister.
The studio has been equipped with movie sets resembling airport, railway station, palace, village, shopping mall, forest, snow-covered mountains, haunted house, Amazon rainforest and river among others.
Besides, the studio has new shooting floor, sound recording room, dubbing room, audio visual room, sound control room, animation work station, movie editing room, sound proof room and photography zone among other facilities, reports said.
“The refurbished Kalinga Studio has several new facilities including a ‘snow world’. The new facilities are expected to attract visitors to the studio. The studio will be a major tourist destination in the capital city. The people can visit the studio by paying the entry fees,” said an official.
Established in 1980, Kalinga Studio had played a key role in bringing new era in Odia film industry. The indoor and outdoor sequences of several popular Odia movies had been shot at Kalinga Studio in 1980s and 1990s.
The Super Cyclone of 1999 had caused extensive damage to the iconic studio.Soon after taking charge as the Chief Minister of Odisha, Majhi had directed the officials to expedite the transformation work at Kalinga Studio.
Industries Minister Sampad Chandra Swain, Ekamra Bhubaneswar MLA Babu Singh and actor-turned-legislator Sidhant Mohapatra among others were present on the occasion.