Chennai: Reinforcing Chennai’s position as a fast-growing hub for film production, live events and creative industries, the VELS Group formally inaugurated VELS Film City, the only fully integrated film city in Tamil Nadu, alongside the VELS Trade & Convention Centre. The landmark facility was inaugurated by Thiru Thangam Thennarasu, Minister for Finance and Human Resources Management, Government of Tamil Nadu, and Padma Bhushan Kamal Haasan, with the event presided over by Dr. Ishari K. Ganesh, Founder-Chancellor of VELS University and Chairman of the VELS Group of Institutions and Companies.
Spread across a vast campus, VELS Film City offers an end-to-end ecosystem for cinema and content creation, bringing together outdoor shooting locations, 20 fully equipped indoor studios, production support infrastructure, guest accommodations and VELS Theatres, a six-screen multiplex with a dedicated food court. The integrated model is designed to reduce production friction, enable faster turnaround, and position Chennai as a competitive destination for large-scale film and digital productions.
A Strategic Boost to Chennai’s Creative Infrastructure
Strategically located in Chennai’s emerging business corridor, the adjoining VELS Trade & Convention Centre is expected to become a preferred venue for exhibitions, conferences, entertainment events and film-related gatherings. With four expansive convention halls spanning 3.5 lakh sq. ft., the centre can host up to 20,000 guests and provides parking for nearly 6,000 vehicles—placing it among the largest convention destinations in Tamil Nadu.
The facility also features a dedicated open-air event space accommodating another 20,000 attendees, making it suitable for concerts, festivals and mega public events. Supporting infrastructure includes luxury guest houses, multi-cuisine restaurants, a 15,000 sq. ft. open dining area, 15 designated exhibition stall spaces, and advanced CCTV surveillance with centralised monitoring.
Leadership Perspectives
In his address, Dr. Ishari K. Ganesh conveyed that the Hon’ble Union Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman and Hon’ble Minister of State Shri L. Murugan were unable to attend due to prior commitments, but had extended their best wishes for the initiative. He also thanked the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. K. Stalin, for deputing Thiru Thangam Thennarasu to grace the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, Thiru Thangam Thennarasu highlighted Tamil Nadu’s strong economic momentum, noting the state’s double-digit growth driven by sustained infrastructure investment and active private-sector participation. He emphasised that initiatives such as VELS Film City play a critical role in job creation and long-term economic development.
In his special address, Kamal Haasan observed that Chennai has evolved into a pan-India hub for film production. Encouraging the younger generation to take Tamil cinema to greater heights, he expressed confidence in the industry’s future, citing the leadership of the next generation at VELS as a sign of sustained creative renewal and global ambition.
Industry and Cultural Presence
The inauguration witnessed the presence of several distinguished guests, including former Minister Veeramani; L. K. Sudheesh, Deputy General Secretary, DMDK; Jaynthilal Chalani, President, Gold and Diamond Jewellery Association; actors R. Parthiban, Senthil and Sripriya; VGP Santhosham; leading academicians; and representatives from business, trade bodies and cultural organisations. The dais also featured Dr. A. C. Shanmugam, Founder-Chancellor, Dr. MGR Educational and Research Institute.
