Culture Minister A.K. Balan has said the government intends to bring back cinema halls to the villages.
As many as 30 cinema halls would be set up in a venture led by Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC) this year itself, he said while inaugurating the renovated Kairali and Sree theatres at North Paravur on Saturday.
KSFDC Chairman Lenin Rajendran and Managing Director Deepa Nair had told the media the other day that funds, around ₹100 crore, would be generated through Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) for setting up cinema halls across Kerala on land leased by local bodies. On Saturday, Mr. Balan said the government was examining proposals by investors for some 400 such cinema halls.
Technical bid
Meanwhile, technical bid was opened and financial bid was being examined for appointment of consultant for the preparation of a detailed project report (DPR) for converting the iconic Chithranjali studio complex in Thiruvananthapuram into a mini film city, which will be a major tourist attraction. It is a ₹150-crore project, also intended to be executed with support from KIIFB.
A theatre complex, to come up here, would address the need for more screening spaces during the annual International Film Festival of Kerala, Mr. Balan said. Each district in the State would have a cultural centre, to be set up at a cost of₹40 crore.
The event at North Paravur saw release of a new logo for KSFDC. Actor Salim Kumar inaugurated the first show in the newly opened cinema houses.