Visit to a Film City- Ramoji

   If anyone ever asked me to describe my Film City visit in a sentence I would say "It was a Magical Journey in a Dreamland"

            

I have been to several theme parks, but a theme park of this large magnitude never. Spread on 1666 acres, Ramoji claims to be the largest integrated film city in the world. Inside the film city walking barely few steps you will find yourself transported from Streets of South India to Streets of England !! At a moment you will find yourself in Ghost land and just the other moment reach the Durbar Hall of Kings holding Royal assemblies !! At points you will enjoy the cool breeze in Japanese Garden and at other you will find Statue of Liberty standing in front of you holding her torch high. Every second spent there was exciting and full of surprises.  

        We reached Ramoji at 10 in the morning. There were different packages available for day long tour. The Package we booked costed us Rs 700 each and it included tour of Ramoji Film City by Vintage bus,  Ramoji Movie Magic, Eureka, Fundustan and Studio tours. We entered the film city after strict security check and a bus took us to Ramoji Movie Magic. 

        The giant palatial gates welcomed us in, there were several buildings like Ramoji Tower and Filmy Duniya inside. At left corner was Jimmy's Drive-in with a Vintage Car and model of Petrol pump in front, at right corner Mask and Spiderman stood opposite to the model of Barber's Den and in front was replica of Statue of Liberty. 

            We first entered the Ramoji Tower not aware that we were just few minutes short of experiencing an Earthquake !! We entered into a room that looked like a miniature version of cinema hall with  seating capacity of not more than 30-40 people . After everyone was seated the clamps automatically held us tight to our seats. The movie began and the people on screen said that we were about to face an earthquake when suddenly our seat began to move randomly, the screen showed some rat running around and we could feel them below our chairs near our feet tickling us, water pipes burst on screen and we could feel the drops reaching us as well, finally an helicopter came to our rescue... Irrespective of age, each and everyone shouted and laughed throughout the show and after the show ended I only wished it continued longer.

Inside Filmi Duniya

                                                                                        
         We next went inside the building named Filmi Duniya, here we were made to sit on toy trains and the train transported us to different eras, different countries and through different stories. The puppets and the sets inside were so  beautifully crafted that I just couldn't blink my eyes and despite knowing the fact that they were all sets I felt being a part of that era even if it was for few seconds. Just before starting the ride a photographer clicked our family picture and after coming out of Filmi Duniya our snaps was ready with Ramoji Film City background and properly placed in a book like envelop. Although for collecting the photographs you need to pay an amount but memories are priceless, isn't it ? 

       Next we went inside the Action studio, going by its name I guessed may be we will be made to witness some stunts but completely surprising me, Action Studio turned out to be the most informative part of Ramoji Movie Magic. Here in different chambers how actually the different stunt effects are created, how the different sound effects commonly heard during any action sequel is created was demonstrated. Volunteers were picked up from audience and the whole process was explained with intricate details making the volunteers perform the activities. And after recording the process, the action sequel of Sholay was demonstrated with sound effects and stunts done by volunteers. It was funny as the recording was more of a comedy than Action. Clearly indicating the amount of hard work that goes behind making an actual Action Sequel. It was noon by the time we moved out of the Studio. Welcoming us was Jimmy's Drive in, we enjoyed a stomach full yummy lunch there.

        Next on card was the Studio Tour, Dark Red Vintage Bus waited for our arrival. Guide was available with each bus who greeted us in several language as soon as we boarded. The amazing journey soon began.  We passed through beautifully maintained Gardens, passed through the sets that resembled Golden Temple, Mughal Garden. Crossed sets of Railway station. Some streets gave the flavour of West Bengal and some of England owning to the adjacent sets of different type of houses.  Soon our bus halted in-front of a huge building which looked just like an Airport Terminus. And to my surprise not only did the set resemble an Airport terminal but it had a model Aeroplane as well. 

             Very close to this we were taken to another set -The Bhagavatham Set which resembled Royal Durbar. The Guide explained that through this set an attempt has been made to preserve the cult serial, which was shot years ago. The majestic set with dazzling display of characters transported me back to that Era. 

Bhagavatham Set

Bhagavatham Set

Set of Bunglow of Zamindar of West Bengal

         After witnessing the set we again boarded the bus. The bus left us near Japanese Garden, the thematic garden with Pagoda like structure in the centre. From the Japanese Garden we climbed some stair and reached a Set which resembled the structure of Forts in Jaipur. Inside the fort few artists dressed in Rajasthani costume were performing their folk forms. From the topmost balcony the whole area covered by the beautifully planned Ramoji film City was visible. It was very windy up there and the view mesmerising. Spending some time there we walked through several parks and reached the butterfly garden. A dome shaped structure with greenery all around and lovely tender colourful creatures flying at ease. I felt like a guest in the house of hundreds of butterflies. 

Set of Forts in Jaipur

Japanese theme Park

View of Whole Ramoji film City from Set of Jaipur fort

          From the butterfly garden we headed towards a cave, Giant sleeping Buddha with his disciples welcomed us in. The cave had beautiful sculptures on the walls. It was dark inside with only few source of light. Different models of Gautam Buddha preaching his students were placed inside. The Set looked so natural that for a moment you will forget you are inside a Set . Inside the cave an audio visual show of small length played depicting shadow dance by a sculpture. It was engrossing to see the lovely moves by the dancer.   

Entrance of the Cave

From the Cave we walked towards the spot where we were supposed to board the vintage bus again. Just adjacent to the stand was the Sun fountain garden with a cascading fountain and magnificent structure of Sun God's chariot being drawn by mighty horses in the centre.  

              

            The Vintage Bus carried us back to the same spot from where we had boarded it. Next on card was visiting Fundustan, or the Kid's Zone. Even an aged person will forget their age once they have landed in this part of Ramoji film city for sure. In Fundustan the first attraction for us was Borasura-Magicians workshop. Inside the Borasura at times we had to  walk over molten lava, at other times find our way out of a giant maze, at times fight dragons and at other times walk through enchanted revolving path that could make you feel dizzy but at the exit what was common on each and every face was a big smile. 
               
                From here we went to Dadajinn's Ark, a video game parlour housed inside a ship like structure. Cool new gadgets and latest games can bring out the kid in everyone here. From the Ark we went to the Dome Amphitheatre, here we witnessed some live tricks , dances, beautiful juggling and stunt shows. It was almost 5pm by the time the show ended. Sets of Ramoji were slowly getting lit and giving beautiful view of the whole surrounding.

               During our period of visit Festive Celebration was going on at Ramoji with various groups from different states and various colleges coming to showcase their talent. So apart from the fixed set of entertainment we had an extra perk of enjoying the live performances of extremely talented people from all over India. We took our seats while several groups performed engrossing  acts on stage. 

            A celebration parade was scheduled after the acts got over but as we had to travel long way back to our hotel we couldn't wait any longer. Ramoji Bus service waited to take us back to the Exit gate. The whole film city was lit by then. It looked like a Dreamland with lots of positivity and creativity all around. Cool breeze kissed my face as the bus started. And with every twist and turn of the road the Sets that I had visited the whole day seemed to wave me a  smiling goodbye. It was a day where every second was filled with excitement, surprise and smile. Thanks to each and everyone involved in building this dreamland, where people can come and take back thousands of happy memories !

Illuminated Angel's Fountain