Day-3| 06-June-2011 | In Hyderabad | 99.3 kms | 770.7 kms

The day started when my mobile rang the bell at 7:00 AM. Since the plan was to explore Ramoji Film City, thought to depart from room by 8:15 AM since I might need around 2 hrs to reach Film City. After getting on bike, first went to sis’s place to keep my bag with valuables & she insisted to finish a quick breakfast & leave. In spite of saying ‘NO NO’, I could not escape from her & had to leave after breakfast. These sisters are so wonderful I feel at least in terms of taking care of youJ. Meanwhile, Kishore got me the route to Film City.

With all set, left GachiBowli & took the route suggested by Kishore. After Salar Jung Museum, I got lost in between the bridges & enquired with a advocate standing on his bike talking over the phone to someone.

“Ek kaam karo! Aap mujhe fallow karo! Ek jagah pe mein left lelunga. Aap seeda chale jaana. Ramoji Film City milega…”

Thanked him for his kind favour & fallowed him. It dint take much time for me to hit the Vijayawada highway where Film City lies. Although I was on NH, the mad morning traffic sucked my patience to the core L but I can’t help. After riding for around 50 Kms in dust, parked my bike in Film City parking area.

“Gaadi yaha lagado! Andar jaane keliye, aapko Film City ka bus pakadna padega! Free hain..”

After paying 600 bux entry fee, boarded the Film City bus & it was pleasant drive for 12 Kms. All the visitors were also given one Film City map which did help me a lot later. As soon as I got down, a volunteer advised me to get onto Guided Tour first & then visit specific places. As per his suggestion, got into guided tour bus & the ride was for more than an hour. The guide showed us various places in the Film City like Hawa Mahal, Leg Garden, Mahabharat & Ramayan settings, Foreign Location, Munna Bhai Hospital & so on. Our guide also gave brief history of the Film City. The entire setup is spread across 2000 acres of land. Even Hollywood movie has been shot here. This Film City has Guinness world record of being the largest Film Studio in the world. The first Hindi movie shot here was ‘Bade Miya, Chotte Miya’.

It was put on a wall at the entrace!

It was Munna Bhai's hospital in the movie!

Mahabharat/Ramayana Setup

Foreign locations

View from Hawa Mahal!

Cute one!

Guided tour ended on Hawa Mahal from where one can easily walk to Sanctuary Garden, Japanese Garden & next to it was bus boarding point. After my share of satisfactory clicks, asked the help desk at bus boarding point about where is the next spot. One good thing I found here was that the routes are pretty disciplined in the sense that one cannot get on to any place of his choice. Visitor has to go through some route in which case, they would be made to visit all the places. Next in the list was artificial caves & as soon as I got in, found there was no difference in the look & feel of original Ajanta/Ellora caves & this artificial one.

These statues are a common sight in RFC

Sanctury Garden

Japanese Garden!

Attractive one...

Inside Artificial Cave!

Another Shot...

Donno which spot is this!

Next bus stop was at Ramoji Movie Magic. It contains various shows explaining how a movie is shot & given with sound & other needed effects.  Movie Magic had two shows first one being ‘Filmi Duniya’ where in you will be taken for a round in a very small toy train. As you move on, you can see all the verities of models ranging from Mughals to Core western culture. After a quick 10 min ride of Filmi Duniya, got into ‘Action’ where visitor will be shown how a movie will be shot. As part of the demonstration, a boy & girl were called for acting. The situation was of the movie sholey where Gabbar’s gunda’s are chasing Basanti & she is running in her tanga. Boy’s task was to shake the tanga so that it looks as though she is riding tanga. Girl’s task was to act as if she is seeing the villain’s backside & riding tanga. First the clipping was taken, and then the sound effects were given with some basic things. After all the Pre-Production, Production & Post-Production stages of movie demonstration, was out of the show in 30 mins time.

Ramoji Movie Magic welcomes you!

Celebrity Models

Inside Filmi Duniya!!!

There were lot like this in Filmi Duniya

Am I at Hollywood???

Ramoji Tower beside Movie Magic

It was already 1:00 PM & my stomach started taking over the owner ship of what to do next. Enquired at Help Desk about Dil Se restaurant & had a buffet lunch for 150 bux. The veg lunch was worth it at least for the sake of Puri & KeerJ.

Post lunch, it was time to explore Eureka & even this hosts some shows. After ‘Spirit of Ramoji’ & ‘Stunt Show’ was out & headed towards Fundustan. This area hosts many activities specifically for kids. Thought exploring ‘Borasura’ would be good & got in only to find it was kinda ok. Came out quickly to visit Mughal Garden & then again got into Fundustan to see Dome Theatre. Good thing at Ramoji Film City is that at every corner of the Film City, there is a facility for drinking water. Since the day was hot, it was very much required for me. Waited till 6:00 PM to see the final show ‘Summer Splendor 2011’.

Welcome to Eureka....

Stunt Show setting!

Fundustan entry!

Ship insite Fundustan

Borasura Entry!

Inside Borasura!

Another shot!

Mughal Garden...

Angel fountain!

All in all, felt it was a wonderful one day excursion & took the bus back to parking lot. Rode back to city & damn! Am lost. The roads near Salar Jung Museum was so confusing that I ended up in some totally different route. Asking rick drivers dint help much either. After several tries, asked a guy in bike about the route to Rethi Bowli. While he was telling the route,

“Follow me buddy!” a voice came from another bike adjacent to mine in the signal. I told him,

“Actually I want to go to GachiBowli…” “Ya ya! I got it” he said.

Mean while when I followed him, couple of questions followed from his side & he was spell bound to know that I am on a 50 day bike trip across India. He said he works as a DJ in pub & doing his second year graduation. Damn! Guys are so independent here I thought. He offered me Pani Puri & had a good conversation. After thanking Pawan for Pani Puri & route to Gachibowli. Took the valuables bad from sis’s place, got back to room & had bath as I was fully in dust. It was already 10:30 PM by then, packed things, blog update & crashed post midnight.