Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday inaugurated the redeveloped Kalinga Studio here, describing the modernised facility as a major step towards reviving the state’s cinematic legacy and meeting the evolving needs of the film industry.
Alongside the upgraded studio, the Chief Minister also inaugurated a dedicated archive and museum established to preserve Odisha’s rich cinema heritage.
Speaking at the event, Majhi said Odia filmmakers would no longer need to depend on other states for technical requirements as Kalinga Studio now offers several world-class facilities. He said more advanced infrastructure would be added to the facility in the coming days.
The revamped studio has been developed as a self-contained film production ecosystem with facilities including indoor shooting floors, a snow house, chroma floor and tech zone. It also has advanced infrastructure for sound recording, dubbing, editing and post-production.
The archive and museum will preserve old films, posters, photographs and historical documents associated with Odia cinema, the Chief Minister said.
Recalling the evolution of Odia cinema, Majhi highlighted the close relationship between literature and films in the 1950s and 1960s, citing classics such as ‘Maa’, ‘Amadabata’ and ‘Matira Manisha’.
Kalinga Studio was established in 1980 for film production in Odisha. However, natural calamities and rapid technological changes over the years necessitated its redevelopment, he said.
Majhi expressed confidence in the state’s young talent, saying the new generation has demonstrated skills in acting, direction, cinematography, animation, sound design and storytelling for digital platforms.
He urged young filmmakers to use the facility to produce original content rooted in Odisha’s stories, folklore, history and cultural traditions.
Industries, Skill Development and Technical Education Minister Sampad Chandra Swain said the redeveloped facility had been conceived as an ultra-modern film studio complex equipped to cater to requirements ranging from production to post-production.
The film industry, he said, should be viewed not merely as a source of entertainment but as a large economic ecosystem with significant potential for employment and growth.
Majhi also launched the new official portal of the Odisha Film Development Corporation (OFDC) on the occasion.
Ekamra MLA Babu Singh, Digapahandi MLA Siddhant Mahapatra, Korei MLA Akash Das Nayak, Industries Department Additional Chief Secretary Hemant Sharma and Kalinga Studio Managing Director Surendra Kumar Panda were among those present.
