We got up early morning and without having breakfast rushed to the APTDC reservation centre at Basheerbagh in a rick. We reached the office at sharp 8 and there were a little more tourists waiting. The receptionist over there told that the fare for RFC had been increased by Rs. 100 per head, and so we had to pay extra, and the final amount per head had come to Rs 700. As we waited, we wished my Chickamma birthday wishes till the bus arrived at 8:15. The Ramoji Film City tour, or RFC tour as they called, was fully booked for that day. The driver stopped at Haritha restaurant on Tank Bund Road for breakfast. Later, we started for RFC by 9:45.
It took a little more than half an hour to reach Ramoji Film City. The weather was dull with light drizzling. The driver got off the bus, and returned with the entry tickets for all and also a sticker to be worn on the chest. He told us to come to the other side after security check and the bus would take us to the actual location of RFC.
RFC is about 5 kms down after the main entrance. A huge area. On the way, we saw Sanghi Venkateshwara temple on a cliff. As we entered RFC, the landscaping began to change. Every building looked like a model. I was wondering if I was still in India only. So clean and neatly maintained. Its located on a hill so had some ups and downs. On the way, we saw Sitara Hotel, where film stars halt while shooting and a couple of other buildings.
The driver stopped us near to a place called 'Eureka' at 11 and asked us to go on round of RFC by our self and be back near the bus by 5 PM. The first look of Eureka made us spellbound.
We first went into Eureka, where there were some areas like Meena Bazar, fun rides, Wild West, Alampana restaurant, etc. As per the film required, these simply can be turned to whatever to be. Pictures tell it all...
The settings were all colorful. For songs, just had to change the background. Only the front part of houses were seen, and backside was empty. :) Wonder how many people have actually travelled abroad ;)
There were models of Laurel and Hardy, a petrol bunk, a tired director, and many others.
A replica of Hollywood made me feel I was actually there!
Besides it, was Ramoji tower, a multi storied building (actually?). The guides over there were shouting that Earthquake show was about to start and so we entered the tower. Inside, while waiting for the show, Ramoji, the founder of RFC was giving fundas on a huge LCD TV. The show began after a while and it was an illusion show where we had been taken 37 floors up the tower and made to watch how RFC would have been had an earthquake struck. It was a really nice show. As we came out, we passed thru the dismantled portions of the buildings (!).
Adjacent to it was a Movie Magic toy train which travelled quite a distance. All thru the ride, different people were welcoming us. There were miniature models of Taj Mahal, London Bridge, Statue of Liberty and Eiffel Tower. There was also an Indian Mt. Rushmore having Bolly & Kolly - wood actors.
Next, another guide was shouting about the Movie Magic show. We entered that too. Here, someone from the crowd was picked and was asked to enact Basanti of Sholay fame. The catch was, she only rode the cart and another person did the movement of the cart while the camera captured. Later, in a next room, a couple of guys produced the horse running sounds with winds using the instruments kept. The final version was a mix of both, resulting in a audio-visual movie :) Now I know, how could Basanti have sped so fast in her tonga ;)
After the movie magic show, we came to the entrance of the Movie Magic area where a tall tower stood.
Having seen all these, our tummy began to beat. There was a Spirit of Ramoji show being held at Eureka at 12:45 but we decided not to attend it. Instead, we went in search of a restaurant where good food was available at reasonable price. After some R&D, we finally went to Dil Se restaurant at around 12:45 PM. A buffet lunch was organized for Rs. 120 per person & we tasted all the items & loaded ourselves. It was yummy!
After having lunch, we came near the bus bay. The bus itself was funny to look at.
The bus took us around the RFC campus. There were the Mughal Gardens (outer) & Brindavan Gardens (inner), a fountain block, Fatehpur Sikri, Taj Mahal, house where Chandramukhi was shot, a God-less temple, rows of houses, a police station, a central jail, Delhi airport, a dhaba, & many more illusion buildings basically for film shootings.
Warangal railway station with Mumbai on the Station name, with trains arriving from all cities of India, a railway platform & stalls, a train & an engine on rubber wheels made us feel like being in a railway station itself. It seems, Jab We Met & some other films were shot here itself.
There were multistoried buildings looking like a box, where films like Robot were shot. Also there were buildings only with pillars where fire sequence could be shot.
There was an entire area dedicated to shoot foreign locations. Houses as in London and Swiss banks were modelled.
And a European styled Jug fountain..
RFC also housed the head quarters for E-TV & other sister channels. The broadcast of Kannada news happens from here itself. These buildings were real for sure :)
No two streets had the same lampshades!
We then came to Hawa Mahal, from where the whole of RFC could be seen. It had a splendid look.
There were idols of dancing ladies too..
Next, we went to 'Sayonara' Japanese garden.. Yo..! we visited Japan too!!
Next by bus, we came to candle garden..
From there, we came to Ajanta-Ellora caves, known as 'Kripalu' caves. A sleeping Buddha was carved there..
Next, we saw the Sun garden. It was beautiful.
Finally we came back near Eureka & went to Fundustan. It was a little gaming area for kids. We also saw the Train restaurant there.
And a ship..
Next, we went to Borasura, a magic box.
Finally we came back to the main entrance & took a ride on Ranger.. Goddamn crazy it was..! Rotating a full circle. A wonderful experience for both of us, especially for her as it was first time sitting in such a ride. Too thrilling!
By this time, it was already 4:45 PM. We quickly had a cup of tea and came back to the bus. We started back for Hyderabad by around 5:15 PM. On the way, we called Singh Uncle to check if he was at home. He said his house was on the way back and asked us to get down at Kothapet and take a rick to Saroor Nagar. He said he would be back in half an hour from office. We did so, and reached his place by 6:45 PM. Only aunt & his daughter were there at that time. After casually chatting, uncle finally turned up at 8 PM. We said, it was already late and had to get back to lodge. But he insisted us to stay for some time, and he would take us to Ashtalakshmi temple nearby. We went in 2 bikes to the temple. Riding bike on Hyderabad roads made me more confidence that I could ride in any of the road!
Ashtalakshmi temple was one among famous temples in Hyderabad located in Ramakrishnapuram. Its fully made of marble. In the entrance was a small Ganesha temple & after that was the Ashtalakshmi temple. The presiding deity here was Sri Lakshmi Venkateshwara, and surrounding it, in a shape of an Octagon were the 8 Lakshmi Avatars.
Having seen this, we came back to his house and we began to leave when uncle again insisted we have dinner at his place. We had no option, as he wasn't letting us go. We finally had dinner, and took leave of them. Again on bike, we followed uncle & his son, and they dropped us at the lodge by around 10:30 PM. We were totally exhausted by then and just went to bed. The next day, we had to be ready by 7:30 AM for local sightseeing tour.
Overall, the day was superb, and the memories of RFC will stay for long. No wonder, it has entered the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest film studio on earth. Hats off to Ramoji ! Its worth every Rupee ! :)
