Overwhelmed by the increasing demand by filmmakers for shooting films at railway stations, Central Railway has identified new locations for the purpose. CR also plans to issue hassle-free clearances to production houses and filmmakers. Carsheds at Kurla and Matunga have been identified as the new locations, while CR will also improve facilities at the existing shooting favourite Wadibunder. Infrastructure of these stations will be made more shooting-friendly and CR officials will explain their availability to production houses.
“In recent years, we have received an excellent response from filmmakers and we want to cash in on this opportunity, not only to add revenue, but also popularise our locations through film, which is a powerful medium,” said Atul Rane, chief PRO, CR. He further added, “We are in the process of
finalising the locations and we will finish it shortly.”
Meanwhile, CR has updated the list of locations (stations) where facilities for shooting films are available in Mumbai, Pune and Bhusawal division. Lokmanya Tilak Terminus in Mumbai division and Murtajapur in Bhusawal division are new locations where CR is inviting filmmakers to shoot. According to an official, “LTT has good environment to shoot films and will be quite popular among production houses.”
CR earned `61.53 lakh in the year 2011-12 and `105.76 lakh in year 2012-13 through film shoots in its premises. In the first quarter of the current fiscal, CR has earned `91 lakh.
“Earlier, it used to take 10-15 days to give permissions, but now we are issuing them within three to five days. The move has been welcomed by filmmakers; the CR too, has earned a substantial revenue,” added Mr Rane.
According to the PR departments of both the railways, “First, we ask for the scripts and after ensuring that these films won’t portray Railways in a bad light, we issue the permission.”