Forest department to allow film shoots in Hyderabad urban parks

HYDERABAD: Several films featuring dense forests were shot in the Narsapur forest area, while Vikarabad forests have also become popular for film shoots in recent years. Both are located about 50–80 km from Hyderabad.

Urban forest parks to open for cinema shooting soon

Now, the forest department has decided to permit movie shootings in urban forest parks and national parks located much closer to the city. Officials are holding talks with representatives of the Telangana State Film Development Corporation (FDC).

Narapally Nandanavanam has attractions such as a deer enclosure, thick woodland, a children’s play area and a treetop walkway. Kandlakoya Oxygen Park, with over 50,000 trees, resembles a dense forest. Masidgadda Urban Park, adjacent to the Outer Ring Road, offers greenery spread across hundreds of acres and facilities for adventure sports. They are also considering B N Reddy Nagar’s Arogya Sanjeevani Vanam and Chilkur’s Forest Trek Park. A forest department official said, “We are moving ahead with the idea of promoting these parks for film shoots.”

Plans are also in place to allow filming inside Mrugavani National Park in Chilkur and Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park near Vanasthalipuram. Officials expect the move to generate significant revenue.

According to sources, someone has already shown FDC representatives photos and videos of these parks. Location experts from the film industry are likely to visit the sites before making a decision.