Mahaboob Pasha at a media conference in Kalaburagi on Saturday.
In a major push for the Kannada film industry and promotion of the regional language, Mahaboob Pasha, chairman of Sri Kanteerava Studios Limited, has announced a proposal to establish film towns in Kalaburagi and Hubballi.
Addressing a press conference in Kalaburagi on Saturday, Mr. Pasha disclosed that a formal request has been submitted to the Kalaburagi district administration for allotment of at least 50 acres of land for setting up a film city. He expressed confidence in the progress of the project and noted that Deputy Commissioner B. Fouzia Taranum responded positively to the proposal.
The proposed film towns of Kalaburagi and Hubballi are to be smaller models of the iconic Sri Kanteerava studios in Bengaluru. According to Mr. Pasha, the primary objective was to provide a dedicated platform for local talent. Mr. Pasha said the authorities are also planning to set up film studios in Vijayanagara, Chitradurga and Shivamogga to ensure a wider reach across the state.
Mr. Pasha emphasized that apart from nurturing artists, the establishment of film centers would significantly boost local trade, boost tourism and play a key role in preserving and promoting the Kannada language.
Government OTT platform
In another major development in the industry, Mr. Pasha announced that the state’s Over-the-Top (OTT) platform is slated to be launched by the end of January or the first week of February 2026. The initiative, which was declared in the 2025-26 budget, aims to provide a global stage for local art, literature-based cinema and short films, he said.
“With this launch, Karnataka will become the third entity in India to operate a government-backed OTT platform, following in the footsteps of Kerala and the Union government. Several high-level meetings have been held to finalize the technical details of the platform,” Mr. Pasha said.
Earlier in the day, Mr. Pasha met Ms. Taranum to formally submit a memorandum seeking approval of 50 acres of land for the Kalaburagi Film City project.
Published – 20 Dec 2025 21:06 IST
