Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurates upgraded film facility; archive and museum launched to preserve Odisha’s cinematic legacy.
GTNS | OCTOBER 5, 2026
BHUBANESWAR: Odisha’s film industry has entered a new phase with the inauguration of the extensively redeveloped Kalinga Studio in Bhubaneswar, bringing modern production infrastructure and facilities under one roof while creating a dedicated space to preserve the state’s cinematic heritage.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi formally inaugurated the upgraded studio on Monday and also launched a specialised film archive and museum established within the studio complex.
The redevelopment is being positioned as an important step towards strengthening Odisha’s filmmaking ecosystem and reducing the dependence of local filmmakers on facilities outside the state for specialised technical work.
From shooting to post-production under one roof
The renovated Kalinga Studio has been planned as an integrated film-production ecosystem suited to contemporary filmmaking requirements.
The complex now includes facilities such as indoor shooting floors, a snow house, chroma floor, technology zone, sound recording, dubbing, editing and post-production infrastructure.
The Chief Minister said the upgraded facility would give Odia filmmakers access to advanced technical support within Odisha. He also indicated that additional modern facilities would be introduced at the studio in the coming days as the requirements of the industry evolve.
The objective is not merely to provide a shooting location but to create an environment where different stages of filmmaking can be carried out within the same ecosystem.
A permanent home for Odisha’s film memory
One of the significant additions to the redeveloped complex is the dedicated cinema archive and museum.
The facility is intended to preserve materials associated with Odisha’s cinematic journey, including old films, posters, photographs and historical documents.
The initiative seeks to connect the present generation of filmmakers and audiences with the state’s rich film heritage while creating a permanent institutional record of the evolution of Odia cinema.
CM calls for stories rooted in Odisha
Speaking at the inauguration, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi highlighted the relationship between Odia literature and cinema and recalled the contribution of landmark films to the cultural identity of the state.
Referring to the cinematic tradition of the 1950s and 1960s, he mentioned films such as ‘Maa’, ‘Amadabata’ and ‘Matira Manisha’ as examples of works that demonstrated the creative connection between literature and cinema.
The Chief Minister urged young filmmakers to look towards original stories, folklore, history and Odisha’s cultural traditions while developing new films.
He said the state’s young talent is already making its presence felt in acting, direction, cinematography, animation, sound design and storytelling for digital platforms. Kalinga Studio, he said, can become an important platform for these emerging talents to turn their ideas into professional productions.
From a historic studio to a modern complex
Kalinga Studio was established in 1980 with the objective of supporting film production in Odisha.
Over the decades, however, the requirements of filmmaking changed substantially. Technological advancement, changing production methods and the impact of natural disasters created the need for a comprehensive redevelopment of the facility.
The new complex has consequently been designed around the demands of the digital era while retaining the importance of Kalinga Studio as part of Odisha’s film history.
Film industry viewed as an economic opportunity
Industries, Skill Development and Technical Education Minister Sampad Chandra Swain described the redeveloped studio as a modern film-studio complex capable of supporting requirements ranging from production to post-production.
He emphasised that cinema should not be viewed only through the lens of entertainment. According to him, the film sector represents a wider economic ecosystem, with potential to generate employment, encourage skills and create opportunities across multiple creative and technical fields.
OFDC portal unveiled
The Chief Minister also unveiled the new official portal of the Odisha Film Development Corporation (OFDC) during the programme.
The new digital platform is expected to provide an additional institutional interface for the state’s film-development activities and stakeholders.
Public representatives and officials attend
The inauguration programme was attended by Ekamar MLA Babu Singh, Digapahandi MLA Sidhant Mahapatra and Korei MLA Akash Das Nayak.
Additional Chief Secretary of the Industries Department Hemant Sharma and Kalinga Studio Managing Director Surendra Kumar Panda, among other officials and representatives, were also present.
With modern production infrastructure, a dedicated film museum and archive, and an emphasis on nurturing local creative talent, the revamped Kalinga Studio is set to play a larger role in Odisha’s ambitions for a stronger and more self-reliant film ecosystem