Meghalaya completes first feature film under Tourism Policy
Guwahati: Meghalaya has completed its first full-length feature film under the state’s Film Tourism Policy.
The Telugu film Baa Baa Black Sheep finished a 25-day shoot across the State, including locations in Sohra.
Directed by Guni Manchikanti and produced by Chitralayam Studios, the project employed nearly 2,000 local residents in various departments.
Tourism Department officials described it as one of Meghalaya’s largest creative employment initiatives to date and a demonstration of the State’s growing film-production capabilities.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said the film reflects Meghalaya’s creative ambitions, production readiness, and the potential of the Film Tourism Policy.
Producer Venu Donepudi acknowledged the support provided by the State, which helped complete the project efficiently.
He mentioned that the film will also be released in Khasi and invited the Chief Minister to the national premiere in Hyderabad.
The achievement aligns with Meghalaya’s Vision 2032, which highlights tourism and the creative economy as key sectors for achieving the targeted $10 billion economy.
The Meghalaya Film Tourism Policy 2025 aims to promote tourism through film, upskill local talent, support cultural narratives, create employment, and develop filmmaking infrastructure.
It provides subsidies of up to Rs 1 crore or 25% of production costs for the first ten films, along with additional incentives for using local talent, producing local-language content, and hosting premieres on Hello Meghalaya, the State’s official OTT platform.
The department noted that Hello Meghalaya has over 4.40 lakh downloads and more than 2 crore views, featuring over 500 titles, including 83 feature films in Khasi, Garo, and Pnar.
The Tourism Department stated that as Baa Baa Black Sheep approaches its national premiere, the film highlights Meghalaya’s growing capacity to host major productions.
Its multilingual release, including a Khasi version, reflects the state’s support for cultural visibility and inclusive storytelling, the department added.