Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi Monday inaugurated the redeveloped and state-of-the-art Kalinga Studio in Bhubaneswar, marking a major step towards strengthening the state’s film infrastructure and reviving its rich cinematic legacy. Alongside the inauguration of the modernised studio complex, the CM also launched a dedicated archive and museum aimed at preserving Odisha’s cinematic heritage. Speaking at the inaugural event, Majhi said the upgraded Kalinga Studio would provide filmmakers in Odisha with world-class facilities and reduce their dependence on other states for technical and post-production work. He said several modern facilities have been incorporated into the revamped studio and that additional advanced infrastructure would be introduced in the coming days.
The new Kalinga Studio has been developed as a self-contained film production ecosystem keeping in mind the changing needs of the industry and the demands of the digital era. Its facilities include indoor shooting floors, a snow house, chroma floor, tech zone, sound recording facilities, dubbing, editing and post-production infrastructure. A dedicated archive and museum has also been established at the studio to preserve Odisha’s cinematic heritage. Old films, posters, photographs and historical documents related to the state’s film industry will be preserved and showcased there. Recalling the glorious history of Odia cinema, the CM highlighted the close relationship between cinema and Odia literature. He cited landmark films such as Maa and Mati Ra Manisha, which emerged during the 1950s and 1960s and left a lasting imprint on Odia cinema. Majhi noted that Kalinga Studio was established in 1980 with the objective of supporting film production in Odisha. However, natural disasters and rapid technological advancements over the years made its redevelopment necessary.
Expressing confidence in Odisha’s young talent, the Chief Minister said the state’s youth are increasingly making their mark in acting, direction, cinematography, animation, sound design and storytelling for digital platforms. He urged young filmmakers to draw inspiration from their own original stories, folklore, history and cultural traditions while creating films. “Kalinga Studio will become an important platform for young people to realise their dreams,” he said, while encouraging filmmakers to take Odisha’s stories to wider audiences. Industries, Skill Development and Technical Education Minister Sampad Chandra Swain said the redeveloped Kalinga Studio has been trans formed into a modern film studio complex equipped to meet requirements ranging from production to post-production. He said the film industry should not be viewed merely as a source of entertainment but as a large economic ecosystem capable of generating employment and creating opportunities across multiple sectors.
The CM also unveiled the new official portal of the Odisha Film Development Corporation (OFDC) during the programme. Among those present at the event were Ekamra MLA Babu Singh, Digapahandi MLA Siddhant Mohapatra, Korei MLA Akash Das Nayak, Industries Department Additional Chief Secretary Hemant Sharma and Kalinga Studio Managing Director Surendra Kumar Panda.
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