12°59′33″N80°14′42″E / 12.9924786°N 80.2450586°E /12.9924786; 80.2450586TheMGR Film City is an integratedfilm studio complex inTaramani,Chennai. It was established in 1994 mainly to attract filmmakers and tourists and originally named after former chief minister of Tamil Nadu MG Ramachandran JJ Film City by the AIADMK government. When DMK returned to power in 1996 it was renamed MGR Film City after the popular actor and lateChief MinisterM. G. Ramachandran.[1] It also houses a film institute, known asMGR Film and Television Institute.
The MGR Film City has numerous sets built on various themes to serve as scenery for movies.[2] Sets onMughal andJapanese themes are popular.[3] Several movies includingAvvai Shanmughi,Mudhalvan,Hey Ram and the launching ceremony of the shelvedMarudhanayagam were shot at the MGR Film City.Queen Elizabeth visited the place during her tour to India in 1997.[4][5] Although it experienced initial success, the film city fell back, accumulating a loss of 14 crores (140 million).[6] It also has entertainment facilities for children. ActorAamir Khan donated rupees 1.5lakhs ((₹)150,000 or $3,000 to $4,000) to the city in 2008.[7]
In 2002 the MGR Film City was handed over toTIDCO to develop the area into a knowledge park.[8] The film city's proximity to theAdyar Film Institute,Indian Institute of Technology Madras and theIT corridor was cited as the reason for it to be developed into a knowledge park. TIDCO has plans to build various research facilities forbiotechnology andinformation technology in the premise. An international grade movie park was also planned in the film city.[9]
In August 2014, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa announced setting up of two modern studios at a cost of₹ 150 million. These two air-conditioned studios would cover over 2.5 acres within the MGR Government Film and Television Institute campus.[10]
The Film City is closed since 2002 and no sightseeing allowed ever since.[citation needed]
 | This article about a film studio is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |
