Kalinga Studios won’t be shut: Min

In the wake of widespread criticism from various quarters over an official communiqué for establishment of a sports complex at the Kalinga Studios premises, MSME Minister Prafulla Samal on Monday sought to end the controversy.

“Much importance shouldn’t be given to inter-departmental communications unless it is from the Chief Minister. As per my knowledge, the Government has sanctioned about Rs 2 crore towards renovation of the Kalinga Studios. The IDCO has been entrusted to revive the defunct studio,” Samal told reporters.

“We will develop the studio on the lines of the famous RK Studio and Gemini Studios so that producers from other States use the facility at the Kalinga Studios.

We have no intention to shut down the studio in the name of development of sports. We can earmark unallocated land or, for that matter, space can be created for development of sports infrastructure. The Government wouldn’t at any cost hand over the Kalinga Studios for any other purpose,” the Minister said.

Notably, a letter from the Sports Secretary to the General Administration Department to build a sports complex on the vacant land of the Kalinga Studios on Friday drew sharp criticism from various quarters, especially from Ollywood artists. The move also met with stiff opposition from the Odisha Film Development Corporation.