Film and serial shoots in temples boost muzarai department income in Karnataka

Bengaluru: The Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Department has reported a steady rise in revenue from film and television shoots conducted in temples and community halls, earning around ₹71 lakh over the last three financial years.

Data shared by the department shows that film shootings contributed ₹53.91 lakh, while television serials added ₹16.86 lakh between 2023–24 and 2025–26. Additional earnings from documentaries, advertisements, and news features amounted to ₹42,000. Officials confirmed that the funds are being used for maintaining temple premises and associated infrastructure.

Locations in Mysuru, Mandya, and Bengaluru emerged as major contributors. The Nanjraj Bahadur Choultry in Mysuru topped the list with ₹13.27 lakh revenue, followed by the Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple with ₹11.13 lakh. In Bengaluru, Sri Raya Raya Kalyana Mantapa generated ₹9.73 lakh.

Officials highlighted that filmmakers from multiple industries, including Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi, have increasingly preferred these heritage locations for shoots. The Old Mysuru region, known for its cultural and architectural richness, continues to attract the highest demand.

Mandya’s temple sites, particularly Cheluvanarayana Swamy and Nimishamba temples, have seen frequent shooting activity. Similarly, temples in Bengaluru have become popular for serial productions due to ease of access and urban connectivity.

In contrast, North Karnataka has witnessed limited activity, with only a few temples like Huligemma Devi Temple in Koppal and Renuka Yellamma Temple in Saundatti being used. Nearly half of the state’s districts have not seen any filming in recent years.

While the department has set rental rates at ₹15,000 for A-grade and ₹10,000 for B-grade properties per day, discrepancies have been observed, with some production houses reportedly paying lower amounts.

Officials explained that permissions and pricing are determined by the Information Department, which may offer concessions based on project budgets or for government-related productions.

The growing trend of filming in temple premises highlights an alternative revenue stream for the department, while also raising questions about uniform pricing and better utilisation of assets across all districts.