Andhra Pradesh to Be Transformed as Film Hub: Dugesh
Durgesh said the government would revive the Nandi Awards for the years 2015–16, 2024 and 2025
Kakinada: The Andhra Pradesh government will take steps to develop the State as a film hub, Tourism, Culture and Cinematography Minister Kandula Durgesh said on Saturday.
Addressing a film training programme organised by the Alluri Sitaramaraju National Film Institute at Palakollu, the minister said the government would extend full support to promote the film industry with the backing of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan.
He said the State had requested Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to establish a branch of the National School of Drama at Rajamahendravaram.
Durgesh said the government would revive the Nandi Awards for the years 2015–16, 2024 and 2025, and organise Nandi Theatre Natakotsavalu alongside the awards to promote theatre arts.
He emphasised the need to develop infrastructure such as studios, dubbing units and recording theatres, stating that the growth of the film industry depends on such facilities. The government, he said, would provide incentives to entrepreneurs willing to establish film-related infrastructure in the State and has simplified the process for obtaining shooting permissions.
The minister noted that several film shoots are currently taking place in locations such as Maredumilli, Araku and Tirupati, and said Andhra Pradesh has the potential to attract more productions.
Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu said Palakollu has produced several noted film personalities who have earned recognition at national and international levels.
Film actor Srikanth, directors Relangi Narasimha Rao, V.N. Adithya, Raja Vannemreddy, producers Thammareddy Bharadwaja and Tummalapalli Rama Satyanarayana, and others attended the programme.