Bhubaneswar: Thanks to an unprecedented controversy following the letter of Sports and Youth Affairs Department, the spotlight is now back on ‘Kalinga Studios’ which had played an important role in the development of Odia film industry.
Odisha’s first and sole film studio, the Kalinga Studios’ present state of affairs - from rotting equipment and dilapidated buildings - speak volumes about the sheer neglect over the past decade.
Equipment of film production worth crores of rupees, are gathering dust in the various units of the studio due to neglect of the authorities. The gadgets used for film production have been decaying while heavy undergrowth makes it a perfect den for anti-social elements.
Mismanagement of the 25-acre studio has irked the Odia film fraternity. Though the Kalinga Studio boasts of a temple village complex, decorative cottages, dubbing theaters and a three-storied building, all of these are lying unutilised.
“It has all the facilities including a separate building for editing, make-up room, canteen to name a few. It is due to some vested interests, the Kalinga Studios has been reeling under neglect,” said actor Siddhant Mohapatra.
Kalinga Studio established on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar in 1982 had come as a boon for producers and directors from the State as till then most producers depended on Kolkata, Madras and Bombay studios for film production. However, the facility was shut citing losses in 2007. Since then, the development of the studio has been stuck up.
“Several producers from outside Odisha had also shown keenness to work for their film production here at Kalinga Studios. Instead of demolishing the remains of the studio, the State government should work for its revival,” said actor Ajit Das.
However, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Minister Prafulla Samal recently had announced that Odisha government had no plans of handing over the land of Kalinga Studios for any sports complex project.
Besides, a mega plan has been mooted for the revival of Kalinga Studios which will be taken up shortly.
“Odisha government has sanctioned Rs 2 crore for the renovation of Kalinga Studios which will be executed by IDCO,” said Samal.