It seems like yet another busy day inside a film studio on Arcot Road in Vadapalani. Men and women are busy demolishing concrete structures and chopping down trees. Another group of young men are engaged in welding, cutting and taking away iron rods and beams. It could be a scene out of a film, only they are not film crew, but working for real, bringing down, brick by brick, a slice of cinema history.
Studios that were used to create some of the most popular and landmark scenes of India cinema in various languages will soon give way to a high-rise residential complex in AVM Studios. All the buildings, including studios and vegetation, are being cleared in a portion of the studio measuring more than 6.5 acres.
As workers hammer at concrete structures, neighbours sharing space with the legendary studios, who have grown used to the arc lights and sound of the clapboards, cannot help but recall their experiences. “It was probably our only source of entertainment before we had televisions at home. We got used to it. Later, our children were as much excited at the activity inside the studios,” says V. Meena who lives in a two-storey home that shares its space with the compound of AVM Studios.
Families who have had the occasional chance to visit the studio have been taken aback by the life-like sets, be it the popular façade of the ‘central prison’ seen in several hundred films, the Ganesha temples, bus stop or other props. “We have heard that flats will be constructed. We will miss the stars who walk up and down, but we will get used to that too,” Ms. Meena adds.
Notable films produced:
| Vaazhkai (1949), First film to be shot in AVM Studios, Vadapalani |
| Parasakthi (1952), noted for script by former CM M.Karunanidhi and debut of actor Sivaji Ganesan |
| Kalathur Kannamma (1960), Kamal Hassan makes debut as child artiste |
| Sivaji (2007) |
SITE DETAILS
AVM Studios is located on Arcot Road, Vadapalani
Total Area: 25 acres (approx.)
Proposed project: A multi-storey residential apartment complex
Total Area of proposed project: 6.5 acres
Guideline value of property on Arcot Road in Vadapalani Area:
Commercial Special Type (I) : Rs. 10,000/Sq.Ft
Mixed Special Type (II) : Rs. 12,000/Sq.Ft.
