“The revolutionary decision taken by the Hon. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will go on to become the biggest gift ever to the entire Indian cinema.” Ashok Tyagi

Ashok Tyagi is an Indian film director working predominantly in Bollywood. Some of his directorial films include Riyasat (2014), It`s Rocking Dard E Disco (2012), Kaash Tumse Mohabbat Na Hoti (2009), Bharat Bhagya Vidhata (2002 ) , Return of Jewel Thief (1996), Andher Gardi (1990) and Surkhiyan (1985) among others. He is now directing a thriller film titled Red starring Krishna Abhishek & Shakti Kapoor which is under production and will be releasing soon.

Just last year, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath showed his interest to set up the country’s ‘biggest’ film city in Gautam Buddh Nagar.

In its curiosity, Approach Bollywood approached film director Ashok Tyagi, based in Delhi for a telephonic interview on proposed Film city in Uttar Pradesh.

Excerpts:

Do you think that the talk of the proposed film city in Noida is just a talk or it will become a reality?

(smiles) Well, well, this is a complicated question, but I shall come out with an appropriate answer. Surely, it will become a reality because work in this direction has been going on for more than 30 years.

As a matter of fact, a film city already exists in Noida and it is said to have recorded maximum growth over that many number of years. And now that the UP CM has pledged further encouragement in this direction by his government, then the labour of the last 30 years is bound to yield fantastic results. And moreover now when the chief minister is taking personal interest in making the film city in Noida the biggest in India, this is bound to become a reality.
The revolutionary decision taken by the Hon. Chief Minister of UP will go on to become the biggest gift to the entire Indian cinema.

For the record, the Indian film industry has got a production centre in
Western India located in Mumbai, in South India there are two, one based in Chennai and the other in Hyderabad and in Eastern India there is one located in Kolkata. But, there is no such film production centre in North India. Before partition there was one hub located in North India in the city of Lahore. But after the partition this production hub went to Pakistan. Since then India has no production hub in North India.

Delhi, for one, does not have the space to accommodate a film city within its limits. Noida being adjacent to the Capital can provide further space required for the extension of the already existing film city. Now, people are happy that at last, the necessity of a film city is getting their dreams of a Films and Television studio fulfilled.

With two film studios namely Academy of Films and Television and Marwah Studios already in place, do you think that the proposed studio will find a place in the entertainment map of UP?

Why not? In this zone, there are a lot of stories to be given a cinematic form but right now due to crunch of shooting place, nothing can be done. The new film city will formally give a new window to fulfil the needs of cinematic preference to stories lying in the back burner.

If the proposed studio comes up, it will not take less than 5 years to make. And the next elections will be held in 2022. What will happen if this government fails to return to power?

(laughs) First of all let me tell you that this government will not be thrown out after two years. Secondly, these days, films are not shot in the studios but are shot on outdoor locations. Moreover, this new studio, that would have exhaustive locations like F1 race course, Yamuna expressway and entertainment corporate offices, is already a film city. So, if the Hon. CM passes a resolution making shooting possible in Noida and greater Noida through a single window booking, then the entire township of Noida will become a film city overnight.   

Would the film fraternity in UP benefit from this upcoming studio?

Since there is no film industry in UP, the question of the film industry benefitting does not arise. However the existing film industry will benefit immensely and by way of its activities will give birth to a film industry in Uttar Pradesh that will give employment to lot many people.