International film city in Kochi, cultural park in Kozhikode, major projects in film, art sectors

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The UDF government has major plans in the budget to make reality the comprehensive development of Malayalam cinema. Chief Minister V D Satheesan announced that J C Daniel International Film City will be established in Kochi. He also said that Rs 100 crore has been earmarked in the budget for this.

A permanent venue for the International Film Festival is also part of the development plans. Plans for granting industrial status to cinema and forming an anti-piracy cell were also announced in the budget. The government aims to create a national and international environment for the film sector in the state.

The budget will also give priority to developing Kerala's unique art and culture sector. The chief minister informed that a cultural park will be established in Kozhikode in the name of M T Vasudevan Nair to nurture various art forms. The chief minister said facilities to perform Kathakali, Koothu, Theyyam, Thullal, Oppana, Mappilapattu, Margamkali and various tribal art forms will be provided.

In addition to this, a library, theater, art gallery, historical and literary language museum, places to make leisure time enjoyable, food courts, libraries, etc. will also be included in the cultural park. Rs 50 crore has been allocated in the budget for all this. In addition to these, Rs 1 crore each has been allocated in the budget for building memorials in the memory of artist Namboothiri and actor Salim Kumar. A cultural trust and museum is being established in the name of artist Namboothiri with the help of the Namboothiri Trust. A new music academy is also being established in Thrissur in the memory of music director Johnson Master. An amount of Rs 5 crore has been allocation for this in the budge, said Satheesan while presenting the budget.