TravTalk India Online Magazine
Let us explore the stunning and picturesque filming locations that are attracting film makers in droves to Madhya Pradesh.
Madhya Pradesh is truly a gift for everyone who loves watching the beauty of nature through a lens. The natural beauty, historic monuments, local tradition and way of life, all of these are a shutterbugs’ dream come true. From some ordinary sites to a landscape amid the majestic hills, the state has given some of the most unique and marvellous shooting locations.
The state’s sheer magnificence could not be unheeded by the patrons of film industry since long as the ‘heart of incredible India’ provides an enormous backdrop to whatever the case is. Be it a crime thriller, a rom-com, historical, social reform or just a feature film documenting life in India, the state has all such destinations to offer.
Various Bollywood films from Dilip Kumar’s AAN (1952) to most recently shot films like Bhumi Pednekar’s Durgamati (2020), and The Last Show (2021) all were shot at the most exquisite locations in Madhya Pradesh.
In 2001, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan performed brilliantly in Santosh Sivan’s historical epic, Asoka, which was an adaptation on the life of Indian emperor ‘Ashoka the Great’. The movie completely bowled over viewers with its visual spectacle. Almost all locations featured looked ethereal and were a treat for sore eyes. THe state’s destinations such as Pachmarhi, (Rajat Prapat, Apsara Kund, Handi Khoh), Jabalpur (Saraswati Ghat, Panchwati Ghat etc) and Maheshwar among others were featured in various scenes of the film.
This apart,many of the spellbinding locations shown in the film Mohenjo Daro (2016) were shot in the bewitching Bhedaghat.The whole area is extremely beautiful with the lush greenery, river and Dhuandhar Falls serving as the perfect backdrop for any Bollywood flick.
Madhya Pradesh has now become the hub of film shooting and a good number of filmmakers are coming to shoot their films. Till now, more than 150 projects, including Hollywood Projects such as The Bear, A Suitable Boy, White Tiger and The Lion and many feature films, TV serial/series, TVCs and reality shows have been shot in the state, of which a few names are Stree, Sui-Dhaga, Kalank, Manikarnika, Luka Chhupi, Padman, Toilet Ek Prem Katha, Bajirao Mastani, Paan Singh Tomar, Lion, C, Aarakshan and Raajneeti among others.
One of the most divine, sacred and religious town of Madhya Pradesh, Maheshwar, which is situated on the banks of River Narmada, attracts many tourists and pilgrims each year. The place has become a regular visiting point for filmmakers. You must have seen Maheshwar Fort in many Bollywood and Kollywood (Tamil) movies.
The land of Khajuraho and Sanchi, the jungles of Kanha and Bandhavgarh, the forts and monuments of Gwalior, Maheshwar, Orchha and Mandu, the culture of Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur and Gwalior offers film directors the most diverse film making experiences in Madhya Pradesh.
Needless to say, the film industries are probably one of the best ways to promote tourism in the world. It could be an ordinary location, but as soon as it is put in a movie, it becomes a popular tourist destination. Keeping this in mind, Madhya Pradesh Tourism has promoted film tourism in a big way.
After the implementation of Madhya Pradesh Film Tourism Policy-2020, the state government is encouraging film tourism by providing subsidies and all permissions and clearances through single window online system. The availability of line producers, production facilities, local artists and crew among others makes it much more economical to shoot on the state’s diverse, rich and beautiful locations. The vision of this policy is to promote tourism in the state and make Madhya Pradesh a major filmmaking hub to create employment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh. After the COVID-19-induced lockdown, The Last Show feature film directed by Vivek Agnihotri, featuring Anupam Kher, Satish Kaushik and Pallavi Joshi, was shot between 25 September 2020 and 22 October in Madhya Pradesh. It was probably the first feature film in the country, which was shot after the lockdown period.
To encourage film tourism in state, the Madhya Pradesh government offers financial subsidy/incentive for film makers on shooting feature film, TV serials/shows, web series/shows and documentaries and the like. Apart from the direct financial subsidy, the state offers land allocation under tourism policy for various film production projects like film city, film studio, pre- post production centres, VFX centre, skill development centre, film and training institutes, incubation centre and other film related start-up projects with an aim to develop film industry and film infrastructure in the state. There is also a provision of subsidy to first films also to provide support to the startups and encourage talent from across the country to come and shoot on Madhya Pradesh’s idyllic and attractive locations.
Here are the salient features of Madhya Pradesh Film Tourism Policy, 2020
- Encourage private investment to make Madhya Pradesh a major attraction for filmmakers.
- Special grant for more screen time for promotion of sites in the state.
- Special financial incentives for internationally recognised and South Indian filmmakers.
- Financial incentives / grants / land allocation on construction of infrastructure of permanent nature.
- Providing services in units of MPSTDC at concessional rates.
- Dedicated Film Facilitation Cell for the implementation of Film Policy.
- Promoting the state by participating in various events related to the film.
- Development of infrastructure such as housing and transport.
- To make available infrastructure such as airplanes, helicopters, properties owned by the government to the filmmakers as per the relevant processes.
- Promoting renovation of single screen cinema, closed cinema houses and upgrading existing cinema halls and encouraging multiplexes.
- Scholarship to students of FTII, Pune, Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute of Kolkata, National School of Drama, New Delhi and others.
- Special financial provision for the films securing special branding of MP.
