KSFDC demands opening up of KTDC heritage hotels for film shooting

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC) has come up with a request before the government seeking allocation of KTDC premium heritage properties like Bolgatty Palace, Kochi, Aranya Nivas in Thekkady and Tea County, Munnar as film shooting locations.
KSFDC chairman Rajmohan Unnithan, who took up the new role two weeks ago, said here on Monday that a request has been submitted before the tourism department to relax their policies with regard to providing its heritage locations for film shooting.
But, the request will prompt the KTDC to think twice or thrice before taking a decision as both properties are among the prime and serene hotels under the corporation, frequented by high-spending tourists.
"A strong demand has been placed before the tourism minister to provide locations like Bolgatty Palace in Kochi, Tea County in Munnar, Aranya Nivas in Thekkady among others for the film production. Arrangements to allocate the prison and railway station for shooting has also been placed before the government since the film crew has to erect expensive sets to shoot railway stations or prisons that ultimately hike their production expenses," he said.
He said that assurance has been given by tourism minister A P Anil Kumar that the government would consider their demands. The heritage properties under KTDC, that were earlier popular film shooting locations, had shut their doors on film crews after several complaints from the guests staying in the heritage hotels came up before the KTDC management. The accessibility of these heritage properties for the tinsel world was then limited to special film pooja packages. The doors of Mascot Hotel in Thiruvananthapuram, which had also been a favourite shooting location, too were shut before Mollywood following the ban.
Tourism minister A P Anil Kumar said that the government has not taken any decision with regard to the matter and that the decision would be taken by considering the need to preserve the ambience of these locations.
"There is a request from the side of KSFDC for allocating such locations for film shooting, but the government has not taken any decision with regard to this. The tourism director has been asked to examine those locations with the department that are not heritage locations to be considered on the basis of the request," tourism minister A P Anil Kumar said.
A senior KTDC official said the presence of film crew, which normally ranges from 100 to 200 people, will be a nuisance for guests who choose this exotic location for peace and solitude. "The damage to properties like damaging the lawn should also be taken into account", he said.
KSFDC chairman also expressed the plans to strengthen the technical competence of the state-owned Chitranjali studio, the film production facility under the Kerala State Film Development Corporation Ltd.
"It will be upgraded with new video cameras and digital intermediate system to enhance the digitizing of motion pictures that are produced under the studio packages offered by KSFDC. KSFDC will also arrange theatre releases for the films produced under our packages," he said.
Lucky locations of Mollywood
Several hit movies had been shot in KTDC's premium properties. Priyadaran's super hit movie Parayanum Vayya Payathirikkanum Vayya was shot at Bolgatty Palace while Rakkuyilil Raga Sadasil, Ayalvasi Oru Daridra Vasi and Hello My Dear Wrong Number were shot at Mascot Hotel
Vinayan's Velli Nakshatram was shot at Bolgatty Palace
Dileep's super hit movie My Boss was the last film shot at Bolgatty Palace