Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who has written several letters to his successor H.D. Kumaraswamy asking him to reconsider some of his decisions, has shot off one more missive — this time urging him not to shift the Film City project from Mysuru to Ramanagaram.
Mr. Siddaramaiah, who had also held the Finance portfolio in the Congress regime, had earmarked funds for the Film City to Mysuru in his budget. He had announced its setting up on 116 acres of land in Himmavu of Varuna constituency, which he formerly represented for two terms. The constituency is now represented by his son Yathindra. However, Mr. Kumaraswamy proposed the project in Ramanagaram in his budget.
Pointing out that a Film City in Mysuru has been a much-cherished dream of the Kannada film industry, the former CM has said the city of palaces has been a preferred destination for film producers from not just the Kannada industry but also from other languages, including English and Hindi. “With historical places and picturesque locations, Mysuru is an apt location for a Film City,” he has written.
“From 1945, one or the other film is regularly being shot in Mysuru. Hundreds of films have been shot at Navajyothi studio, the first one to be set up in Mysuru. Besides, several young actors and new technologies in film-making have been introduced to the industry through Premier Studio, also in Mysuru,” he has said in the letter. “Mysuru has been the favourite shooting destination for veteran film-makers as it has 16 palaces, over 250 locations. It also has an airport now. Over and above this, it was also the desire of the doyen of Kannada cinema Rajkumar that a film city be set up in Mysuru.”
“Considering all these points, I urge you to reconsider your budgetary proposal to shift the project from Mysuru to Ramanagaram,” he has written.
Refusing to comment on Mr. Siddaramaiah’s letter, Water Resources Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who is also in charge of Ramanagaram district, said it was not a matter that concerned his department.