Tourism News

KERALA TOURISM NEWSLETTER

‘Kireedam’ Bridge to be a Game Changer in Film Tourism in Kerala

The state government has given administrative sanction for Rs 1.12 crore in order to develop the ‘Cine Tourism Project – Kireedam Palam at Vellayani’ in Thiruvananthapuram district. The project is expected to be completed in 18 months.

The bridge at Vellayani came to the limelight following the massive success of the 1989 Malayalam film ‘Kireedam’. The film, featuring Thilakan and Mohanlal as father and son, had some of its emotional scenes set against the picturesque locale and the song sequence shot on the bridge further made it even more popular, attracting film lovers and tourists alike to the bridge and adjacent areas.

Kerala Tourism (KT) has pitched the project centred around the bridge as part of the Experiential Tourism concept. This will be the first initiative to take off under the Cinema Tourism project, the other being Bekal Fort in Kasaragod, where Mani Ratnam shot the popular song ‘Uyire...’ for his film ‘Bombay’.

Tourism Minister Shri P. A. Mohamed Riyas said there are many beautiful places that have become prime locations for evergreen hit movies, and the Department of Tourism intends to mark those spots for the Cinema Tourism project. A few of these are closely identified with some of the box office hits, and Kerala Tourism will spot such locales in all districts, he added.