The city that never left the frame: how Vizag became Indian cinema’s enduring backdrop
Visakhapatnam has served as a versatile and enduring backdrop for Indian cinema for over six decades. Filmmakers and local experts describe the city's diverse geography as a character that enhances the visual scale of their productions.
Why it matters
The article highlights the cultural and economic significance of regional hubs in the Indian film industry beyond traditional centers like Hyderabad.
Long before the glass towers in Hyderabad defined Telugu cinema, filmmakers had pointed their lenses at the shores of Visakhapatnam. For over 60 years, this coastal city – home to beaches, hills, colonial-era architecture, university campuses, and lush valleys – has shone on the silver screen.
What started with a landmark black-and-white film in the early 1960s gradually evolved into a tradition that has drawn directors from Telugu, Tamil, Odia and other film industries to the city.
One among them is Tollywood director Praveen Kandregula, who says filming in Visakhapatnam rarely feels like work, asserting that the city is one of the most versatile outdoor filming destinations in southern India. His one of the recent directorial stints was Subham (2025).
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