For producers looking beyond India’s large commercial studio cities, Chitranjali Studio in Kerala offers an unusual combination: government-owned shooting infrastructure, permanent sets, natural landscapes, production equipment, accommodation and post-production services within one organisation.
Located at Thiruvallam in Thiruvananthapuram, the studio is operated by the Kerala State Film Development Corporation, or KSFDC. It was established in 1980 to support film production within Kerala and has served Malayalam cinema as well as projects in other languages.
Its main attraction is not only the shooting floors. Producers can combine studio interiors with gardens, wooded areas and nearby rivers, lagoons, beaches and hill environments, while KSFDC’s single-window mechanism can assist with permissions for eligible government-controlled locations elsewhere in Kerala.
Location and Accessibility
Chitranjali Studio
Thiruvallam
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala – 695027
The official studio profile places the complex approximately seven kilometres from Thiruvananthapuram city. Thiruvallam is on the southern side of the city, within practical reach of:
- Thiruvananthapuram International Airport
- Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station
- Kovalam and its coastal accommodation
- Vizhinjam and surrounding seafront areas
- City hotels and production suppliers
- Kerala’s southern coastal and backwater locations
Actual journey time depends on city traffic and the route used by production vehicles. A separate transport plan should be prepared for artists, technicians, outdoor-unit vehicles and heavy set materials.
Producers should contact the studio before arrival to confirm the correct gate, equipment-entry procedure, parking arrangements and whether vehicle or material passes are required.
Shooting Floors, Sets and Landscapes
KSFDC describes the main shooting floor as one of the largest of its kind in Asia. It also lists a smaller floor for limited requirements and an air-conditioned green-mat floor.
Permanent or adaptable environments advertised by the studio include:
- Police station
- Hospital ward, clinic and reception
- Classroom
- Office rooms
- Village house
- Temple set
- Courtroom
- Gardens and lawns
- Woods and natural landscapes
- Paths and paved walkways
- Sea-view areas within or around the property
The surroundings of Thiruvananthapuram add further production value. Beaches, rivers, lagoons, freshwater lakes and hill environments are accessible within the wider region, although these are not necessarily included in a studio-floor booking.
Availability and present condition must be checked during a recce. Sets may have been modified, refurbished or allocated to another production.
Equipment and Technical Facilities
The official Chitranjali facilities page lists production equipment and technical services such as:
- Outdoor-unit vans
- Sound-proof generators
- HMI, PAR and Kino Flo lights
- Baby, junior and Multi-series lights
- Cranes
- Trolleys and tracks
- Digital cameras
- Location sound recorders
- Non-linear editing
- Dubbing and effects recording
- Re-recording
- 5.1 surround mixing
- Pro Tools recording
- Preview theatre
- Digital intermediate and colour-correction services
Some equipment named on the online rate card is based on older production technology. Producers should therefore ask for an updated equipment inventory, model numbers, service history and test availability before including any item in the technical plan.
In 2026, the studio also underwent a significant modernisation programme involving upgraded administration, an air-conditioned shooting floor, lighting facilities, equipment storage, internal roads and digital-intermediate infrastructure. Additional sound, Foley, mixing and green-screen facilities were also planned or under development. Request a current facility sheet identifying which renovated services are operational.
Suitable Productions
Chitranjali Studio can suit:
- Malayalam and other regional feature films
- Independent and debut feature projects
- Web series
- Television fiction
- Documentaries and short films
- Music videos
- Advertisements
- Interviews and institutional productions
- Green-screen sequences
- Projects requiring dubbing, editing or mixing
- Productions combining studio and Kerala locations
The studio’s published packages are especially oriented towards feature films, documentaries and short films requiring several production and post-production services from one provider.
Published Shooting Rates
KSFDC currently displays the following daily rates on its official website:
| Facility or location | Published daily charge |
|---|---|
| Main Floor No. 1 | ₹7,500 |
| Floor No. 2 without AC | ₹6,500 |
| Landscape/studio complex/nursery area | ₹3,000 |
| Lawn area | ₹4,000 |
| Police-station set | ₹3,000 |
| Courtroom/mini floor | ₹3,500 |
| Hospital ward, reception and clinic combined | ₹2,750 |
| Clinic/reception lobby | ₹1,500 |
| Canteen building | ₹4,000 |
| Entire FTIK building | ₹6,000 |
| Exterior set-work area | ₹2,000 |
| Set work in landscape or open area | ₹1,000 |
| Landscape make-up room with toilet | ₹500 |
When more than one site is used, the rate card states that the second site is charged at 50%. Electricity for a set-work period is listed at an additional ₹1,050 per call sheet.
The official page does not display an effective date for these figures, and several equipment descriptions indicate that parts of the tariff may be legacy pricing. Because the complex was modernised in 2026, treat every displayed figure as a published reference rate requiring written reconfirmation, not a guaranteed quotation. See the complete official KSFDC rate card.
Equipment and Outdoor-Unit Charges
Selected published daily equipment charges include:
| Item | Published charge |
|---|---|
| Outdoor van-mounted generator, excluding diesel | ₹1,000 |
| Portable crane, excluding transport | ₹300 |
| Track and trolley up to 60 feet | ₹100 |
| Kino Flo four-bank light | ₹375 |
| 4 kW HMI light | ₹550 |
| 2.5 kW HMI light | ₹300 |
| 1.2 kW HMI light | ₹250 |
| 5 kW senior spotlight | ₹250 |
KSFDC also publishes outdoor-unit packages ranging from ₹2,250 to ₹6,000 per day, depending on the listed lighting and generator configuration. Vehicle running charges may apply for engagements of up to five days.
These prices appear unusually low by current commercial-production standards. Do not prepare a final production budget from them until the studio confirms:
- Current equipment condition and availability
- Whether operators and technicians are included
- Diesel and transportation charges
- Working-hours limits
- Staff allowances
- Damage and replacement liability
- Applicable taxes
Accommodation Charges
On-site accommodation is one of Chitranjali’s practical advantages. Published rates include:
| Accommodation | Published daily charge |
|---|---|
| AC suite | ₹1,200 plus tax |
| AC room | ₹900 plus tax |
| Non-AC room | ₹650 plus tax |
| AC make-up room | ₹800 plus tax |
| Ten-bed dormitory | ₹1,500 plus tax |
| Five-bed dormitory | ₹750 plus tax |
| Six-bed FTIK dormitory | ₹750 plus tax |
| Two-bed FTIK dormitory | ₹250 plus tax |
Availability, occupancy rules, linen, meals, housekeeping, check-in timing and current tax rates should be confirmed separately.
The surrounding Thiruvallam, Kovalam and Thiruvananthapuram areas provide additional hotel, guest-house and serviced-apartment options for principal artists and crew.
Production Packages and Schemes
The official packages page lists ₹2 lakh and ₹10 lakh package schemes, each involving an initial advance and a five-month production period.
Depending on the package and availability, facilities may include:
- Outdoor units and cranes
- Camera hire
- Avid or Final Cut Pro editing
- Dubbing and effects recording
- Re-recording and surround mixing
- Digital colour correction
- Preview theatre
- Floors and sets
- Accommodation
- Land for constructing sets
- Studio locations
The ₹10 lakh scheme specifically lists RED EPIC camera use for 30 days. Because camera and post-production technology changes rapidly, producers should request the current package specification and substitution policy.
A documentary and short-film scheme is also listed with an initial advance of ₹25,000 and an agreement between the producer and studio.
Advances, Cancellation and Additional Costs
The published rate-card conditions state:
- Fifty per cent of estimated hire charges must be paid as an advance at booking.
- If a confirmed booking is cancelled, 50% of the advance is charged as a cancellation fee.
- Fuel and staff allowances are payable by the hirer.
- Interstate permit costs are borne by the hirer.
- Fifty per cent of the cost of certain fused bulbs may be charged.
- Externally sourced facilities attract a 10% service charge over the supplier’s bill.
- Generator use during a KSEB power failure is listed at ₹750 per hour or part thereof, divided proportionately where applicable.
- Overtime and holiday staff allowances apply to technical departments.
- Applicable taxes are additional where specified.
The website does not provide a consolidated overtime or damage-deposit policy for the renovated facilities. Ask for the latest agreement and tariff before transferring an advance.
Permissions and Booking Procedure
KSFDC is Kerala’s designated facilitator for the state’s single-window film-shooting clearance mechanism. It can coordinate applications for government buildings and public spaces owned by government or local bodies.
A recommended procedure is:
- Send the synopsis and production-company profile.
- Specify dates, crew strength and project language.
- Identify floors, sets, equipment and post-production services.
- Request a technical and location recce.
- Ask for an updated, itemised quotation.
- Submit the producer-details form and identity proof.
- Provide two passport photographs if required.
- Execute the prescribed agreement on appropriate Kerala stamp paper.
- Pay the confirmed advance only to the official account specified by KSFDC.
- Obtain separate approval for drones, weapons, pyrotechnics, animals, traffic control or protected locations.
The packages page presently lists ₹500 Kerala stamp paper for executing a package agreement; reconfirm the current stamp duty.
Verified Booking Contact
Chitranjali Studio, Thiruvallam
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala – 695027
Studio/customer-care telephone:
+91 471 2381450
+91 471 2381451
+91 471 2381452
Additional listed number: +91 471 2380946
Email: chitranjalistudio@yahoo.com
Official website: Kerala State Film Development Corporation
Studio information: Chitranjali Studio
Contact verification: KSFDC key contacts
The website does not provide a separate real-time booking engine. Producers should contact the studio manager directly for availability and forms.
Practical Advantages and Limitations
Advantages
- Government-owned production complex
- Published reference tariffs
- Floors, sets, landscapes and accommodation together
- Production and post-production support
- Single-window assistance for Kerala locations
- Documentary and feature-film packages
- Convenient access to coastal and urban environments
Limitations
- Some online prices and equipment descriptions may be outdated
- Renovated facilities require current availability confirmation
- Published charges do not represent the total production cost
- Specialist equipment may need outside sourcing
- Weather can affect exterior shoots during Kerala’s monsoon periods
- No public live-availability calendar is provided
Producer’s Checklist
- Updated tariff and facility inventory
- Recce of all shortlisted sets
- Stage dimensions and power capacity
- Camera, lens and lighting compatibility
- Crew and vehicle list
- Equipment insurance
- Accommodation allocation
- Rain cover and weather contingency
- Government-location permission requirements
- Drone, fire and stunt approvals
- Advance and cancellation clauses
- Tax-inclusive quotation
- Technician and overtime charges
- Post-production deliverables and storage policy
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the main shooting-floor rent ₹7,500 per day?
That amount is displayed on KSFDC’s official rate-card page, but the page does not show its effective date. Obtain written confirmation before budgeting.
Does Chitranjali provide accommodation?
Yes. AC rooms, non-AC rooms, suites, make-up rooms and dormitories are listed, subject to availability and tax.
Can KSFDC obtain permission for locations outside the studio?
KSFDC operates Kerala’s single-window mechanism for applications involving government and local-body properties. Specialised approvals may still be necessary.
Are cameras and lighting available?
The website lists cameras, HMI, PAR and Kino Flo lighting, cranes, tracks, trolleys, generators and outdoor units. Request a current inventory and technical test.
Is post-production available?
Yes. KSFDC lists editing, dubbing, sound recording, re-recording, surround mixing, preview and digital-intermediate services.
Can a documentary or short film use a package?
Yes. A documentary and short-film scheme is published, but current eligibility, subsidy and package terms must be reconfirmed.
Accuracy Disclaimer
Facilities, rates and contacts were checked from official KSFDC pages on 20 September 2026. The online rate card does not state its effective date and may not yet reflect every facility or price following the studio’s 2026 modernisation. Obtain a current written quotation, equipment list, tax calculation and booking agreement directly from KSFDC before committing expenditure.
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