Media mughal Ramoji Rao is
making a full-fledged Hollywood film Quick Sand not in Los Angeles but in
Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad. He has recreated the Arizona army base, the
barracks, the vehicles, and US military uniforms for the army personnel,
and above all, the virtual reality of American landscape. All this in his
world-famous Film City. History knows Quli
Qutb Shah as the founder of Hyderabad City and posterity will know
Ramoji Rao as the architect of the Film City known to everyone who is
familiar with the world of films and entertainment. Rao's alchemy factory
has produced so far durables like the Margadarsi chit funds,priya pickles, Ushodaya
films and the Eenadu print
and TV empires.
The Film City, spread over
2,000 acres of land studded with hills, vales and lakes, has few parallels
as both a tourist attraction and major film-making facility. The city
looks like the result of a collaboration between P.C. Sorkar and
Vishwakarma and is anytime a match to Universal Studios in
Hollywood, brick to brick, gizmo to gizmo. It is a place where reality
acquires all the attributes of magic and incredibility. Today, it is the
filmmakers' first choice as it is a single-window, press-button facility
that opens up an unlimited arena of creativity for every major and minor
aspect of film production. To quote some directors and producers, the Film
City has "all facilities at one place with latest technology and advanced
equipment." Its brochure highlights its motto as 'make the magic happen.'
However, magic happens spontaneously without human intervention as though
it is the main ingredient of the entire project. Yet, everything is real,
from the 50 studio floors, the support systems, outdoor locations to the
high-tech laboratories, the wealth of technology, the greenery, and the
hillscape.
Every need of the filmmaker,
imaginary and real, has gone into the planning and execution of this mega
project costing hundreds of crores of rupees. Everything that goes into
making a film, from raw film to cameras, to processing labs to editing
consoles, stage properties, studio floors and even travel arrangements to
recreation and past-time is available at the mere mention of it. All this
to suit a variety of budgets, whether it is a shoestring art film or a
giant formula film. Ramoji Film City is an all-in-one boundless complex
offering not just film-making facilities but also customer services,
technical expertise, production support personnel and comprehensive
technical infrastructures attracting the attention of top film-makers,
production houses and leading multinational advertising agencies. A rapid
tour of the Film City complex vindicates the claim it makes in its
campaign that "Ramoji Film City is geared to service several film and
television productions simultaneously. It is one place in the world where
you can walk in with a script and walk out, leaving despatch instructions
for release of prints or television broadcast masters." The Film City, in
company with the Cybercity, has put Hyderabad on the map of the world. In
short, it is a film-maker's dream and a tourist's idea of a paradise
Ramoji film city is a part of Ushakiran Enterprises Ltd., is situated near Hayathnagar ie., on Hyderabad-Vijayawada Highway 25 kms from Hyderabad. For conducted tours to the sprawling complex call 92546501. Adults-Rs.150/- Child Rs.100/