Mysuru: The long-pending dream of establishing a world-class film city in Karnataka has finally moved towards reality, with work officially commencing on the ambitious project planned across 160 acres of land at Immavu in Nanjangud taluk of Mysuru district.

The Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), which is implementing the project, has initiated the tender process for preparing the detailed project report (DPR) as well as for execution of the film city project under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.

Officials said the project aims to transform Mysuru into a major hub for film production and entertainment infrastructure in southern India, attracting filmmakers from Kannada cinema as well as other regional film industries.

Land acquisition and infrastructure work underway

As part of the first phase of development, the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) has already acquired 110 acres of land for the project.

The Public Works Department (PWD) has now begun constructing a compound wall around the acquired land at an estimated cost of Rs 7 crore.

According to T K Harish, senior assistant director of DIPR, Mandya, and nodal officer for the project, the remaining 50 acres of land have also been acquired by KIADB and work on fencing and compound infrastructure for the additional land parcel will commence shortly.

Harish stated that the land selected for the project was largely barren and uncultivated. He added that compensation for all affected landowners has already been cleared by the Mysuru district administration.

Film city planned as complete cinema hub

Officials said the proposed film city is being designed as a comprehensive one-stop destination for film production activities.

The facility is expected to include advanced studios, shooting floors, post-production infrastructure, editing suites, animation and graphics facilities, sound recording units, digital conversion systems and re-recording centres.

Authorities are also planning restaurants, accommodation facilities and visitor amenities within the film city premises to support tourism and commercial activities.

Industry experts have suggested that the project should function as a self-sustaining entertainment and tourism destination similar to the Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad.

They have recommended the inclusion of permanent shooting sets, theme parks and family entertainment zones to attract tourists throughout the year and generate consistent revenue.

Experts further noted that the facility should offer complete end-to-end production support so that filmmakers can complete an entire movie project within the campus itself.

Boost expected for tourism and employment

Tourism stakeholders believe the project could significantly boost Mysuru’s hospitality and tourism sectors once completed.

With increased celebrity visits and film production activity, demand for hotels, transport, catering and other support services is expected to rise substantially in and around Mysuru.

Industry observers also believe the film city could create employment opportunities for both skilled and unskilled workers across multiple sectors, including construction, hospitality, technical services and event management.

Officials pointed out that Mysuru and surrounding regions already offer several scenic tourist destinations and heritage locations, making the city highly attractive for film shootings.

The project is also expected to strengthen Karnataka’s position in the Indian entertainment industry by reducing dependence on film infrastructure outside the state.

Decades-old proposal finally takes shape

The idea of establishing a film city in Karnataka dates back several decades. Officials said the proposal was first made during the tenure of former Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde in 1980, when a film city was proposed at Hesaraghatta in Bengaluru.

The concept resurfaced in 2004 during the tenure of former Chief Minister S. M. Krishna and was later revived again in 2017 under the government led by Siddaramaiah.

In 2018, former Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy proposed the project in Ramanagara district. Subsequently, in 2019, former Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa explored plans to establish it at the Devika Rani Roerich Estate in Bengaluru.

The Siddaramaiah-led government revived the proposal once again in 2023, and the project finally received a major push after an allocation of Rs 500 crore was announced in the Karnataka Budget 2025 for the development of a global-standard film city in Mysuru district.

Officials expressed confidence that the project would emerge as a landmark development for Karnataka’s cinema, tourism and creative industries in the coming years.