The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Visakhapatnam News : Ramanaidu to set up studio in city

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 15, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

Ramanaidu to set up studio in city

Special Correspondent

It's my final ambition, says ace film maker

VISAKHAPATNAM: Noted film producer, D. Ramanaidu, will be realising his dream of creating a studio in Visakhapatnam, which is not just a studio but a tourist spot as well.

``VGP Gardens near Madras inspired me. Since very long time, from the time Telugu films were mostly produced in Madras, I am thinking of constructing a studio which will also be a tourist spot. This is my final ambition. I have achieved all as a producer. My satisfaction will be complete once I produce films in Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi and Malayaalam -- the four Indian languages in which I have not produced films,'' said the producer who made a mark for himself in the Indian film industry.

The Ramanaidu Studios is being planned on a 35-acre site on the Visakha-Bheemli Beach Road. Roads have been laid and the foundation-stone laying function for the studio will be performed on June 1 or 11 after he returns from the shooting of his latest Telugu film, "Nireekshana,'' in Malaysia later this month.

Permanent sets

The first phase of the studio will have the necessary permanent sets like a shooting floor, a police station, an old building, a ''Manduva Logili'' (an old style house), etc., to start with. He is keen to get all these facilities ready by December and start shooting by year-end.

The first phase will need an investment of Rs. 5 crores out of which Rs.80 lakhs were spent on laying roads. He wants to develop the studio gradually.

On his existing studio in Hyderabad, Mr. Ramanaidu said that he created a facility in which a producer walking in with a film script could leave with the first print of his or her film.

Mr. Ramanaidu is in the city after completing shooting of "Nireekshana'' at Araku. He found the agency area well developed and said that if more facilities were created at Araku, film makers need not go to Ooty.

He announced that the returns from "Nireekshana'' would be spent on Vizag. He asked the locals at Araku to find sites on which to construct bus shelters.

Aryan Rajesh and Sridevi are the lead pair in the film, supported by Chandramohan, Babu Mohan etc. This is first movie for director Sitaram. Srilekha is the music director while Sarat is cameraman. Three of the five songs have been completed and the unit is going to Malaysia to shoot a song.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh

News Update

Stories in this Section

Ramanaidu to set up studio in city

MP dubs delay in VSP expansion a blunder

Vikas group launches SURE

Pulse polio mop-up round today

AU to hold instant exams

Stars to line up for a cause

House burgled

Perched up

Around the City

In Visakhapatnam Today