The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Sudden spurt in film shootings in Udhagamandalam

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Monday, Aug 25, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Sudden spurt in film shootings in Udhagamandalam

D.Radhakrishnan

— Photo: M. Sathyamoorthy.

Cinema paradiso: A film shooting in progress at Kandhal near Udhagamandalam

Udhagamandalam: Lights, Camera, Action. Of late, these words have become familiar to many in this hill station following film units from different parts of the country making a bee line to the place to shoot song and other sequences.

While the local people said that the spurt in the activity was conspicuous, those associated with it said that it was not unusual. Film production manager M.Michael told The Hindu here on Saturday that this trend showed that the popularity of scenic areas among film makers has not waned. While film units got what they wanted here, their presence contributed significantly to the economic well being the town and its surroundings, he added.

At present three units were shooting in different parts of the town like Kandhal and the Government Botanical Garden, he said. He also pointed out that they provided direct employment to about 1000 persons and about 2500 derived indirect benefits.

Their daily earning from the units ranged between rupees 200 and 500. When two or three units come here at least 75 cars and vans are hired and a large number of hotel rooms occupied.

Responding to the criticism that often film makers created environment related problems and were a source of inconvenience to the public particularly motorists, he said that all film units now employed persons whose job was to keep the locale clean. Since it was very difficult to stick to time schedules, efforts were made to avoid traffic disruption with the help of the police. If the public especially the onlookers extended their cooperation traffic snarls can be avoided, he added. While those in the hospitality and travel trade opined that film shootings helped the cause of tourism, some of the residents said that they should be regulated.

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