Meghalaya Completes First Feature Film Under Film Tourism Policy with Full-State Shoot

First Film Completed Under Meghalaya’s Film Tourism Policy

Meghalaya has completed the first full-length feature film under the Meghalaya Film Tourism Policy 2025. The Telugu feature Baa Baa Black Sheep, directed by Guni Manchikanti and produced by Chitralayam Studios, was shot entirely in Meghalaya, with locations centred around Sohra. The production was completed in 25 days and engaged nearly 2,000 local youth across departments.

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma acknowledged the development and noted that the film aligns with the objectives of the Film Tourism Policy. He said, “Under the Meghalaya Film Policy, the first movie has been completed. This Telugu film was shot in 25 days, and 100 per cent of the shots were filmed right here in Meghalaya, mostly in the Sohra area. You will be happy to know that close to 2,000 of our youths—our local boys and girls—were employed during the filming of this film. I am very happy, and I hope that many more such films will come and Meghalaya will become a very popular destination for this.” His remarks highlight the policy’s intent to expand creative-sector employment and enhance the State’s visibility among national filmmakers.

Producer Venu Donepudi stated that State support and local coordination enabled the project to be completed within the planned timeline. He said, “It has been a great experience; under your leadership and the beautiful people of Meghalaya, we were able to complete the film—a film of this scale, in less than thirty days, which is actually around twenty-five days, and is going to be a record in itself. This film is going to be released in Khasi as well, and we would like to invite you for the premiere in Hyderabad.” His comments indicate interest in continued collaboration with Meghalaya.

The first film under the Policy aligns with the State’s Vision 2032, which identifies tourism and the creative economy as two of the ten drivers for expanding the State economy to US$10 billion by 2028 and US$16 billion by 2032. With distinctive landscapes, cultural identity and a young workforce, Meghalaya aims to strengthen its presence in content creation and film-led tourism.

The Meghalaya Film Tourism Policy 2025 offers financial incentives, streamlined approvals via the Invest Meghalaya Portal and institutional support to attract productions. Subsidies are available up to ₹1 crore or 25 per cent of the production cost for the first 10 films, with additional grants for local filmmakers, productions featuring local cast or music, and movies releasing on Hello Meghalaya, the State-operated OTT platform.

Hello Meghalaya has recorded more than four lakh downloads and over two crore views. It hosts feature films, short films, music videos and digital content. The platform has onboarded over 125 Khasi, Garo, and Pnar filmmakers and more than 300 creators, with a library of over 500 titles, including 83 feature films across three local languages. Its integration with the Film Tourism Policy supports content development, distribution and cultural preservation.

As Baa Baa Black Sheep, a crime-comedy involving misfit characters and a city-wide chase linked to the discovery of Mahatma Gandhi’s watch, moves toward its national premiere, the project marks a step in Meghalaya’s effort to position itself as a viable production location. The film will also be released in Khasi, reinforcing the State’s aim to support multilingual content.

Also read: Meghalaya Approves New Film Tourism Policy for 2025