Meghalaya has announced plans to establish a Film City and a Film Institute in Shillong, along with a Music Institute in Tura, as part of a major initiative to strengthen the state's creative economy and position itself as a leading hub for music, filmmaking and digital content creation in the Northeast.
The announcement was made by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma during the inaugural Hello Meghalaya Music Awards held in Shillong on the occasion of World Music Day.
Addressing artists, musicians and content creators at the event, Sangma said the proposed institutions would provide long-term support and infrastructure for the state's growing creative community.
"We want Meghalaya and Shillong to become recognised hubs for music, filmmaking and the entire creative economy," the chief minister said, outlining the government's vision of leveraging the state's rich cultural and artistic heritage to generate employment and entrepreneurial opportunities.
According to Sangma, investments in the creative sector are as important as traditional development programmes because they directly create livelihoods while enabling young people to pursue their aspirations in fields such as music, cinema, content creation and digital media.
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The chief minister also highlighted the success of the Chief Minister's Grassroots Music Programme, which has expanded significantly and now supports more than 7,000 artists across Meghalaya. The initiative was launched to identify and nurture musical talent while providing financial assistance and performance opportunities to emerging artists.
The state government used the occasion to showcase the growth of its over-the-top (OTT) platform, Hello Meghalaya, launched in 2024 to promote local storytelling and regional content. Officials said the platform has recorded more than five lakh downloads and currently hosts over 1,000 titles, including films, music productions and digital content created by local talent.
The government also released the second edition of its grant disbursement booklet, detailing financial assistance extended to filmmakers producing feature films, web series and short films in the state.
Officials said the proposed Film City and educational institutions would help bridge existing infrastructure gaps in the creative sector by providing training, production facilities and professional support to aspiring artists and filmmakers.
The projects are expected to create new opportunities for local talent, encourage investment in the entertainment industry and further strengthen Meghalaya's reputation as one of the country's most vibrant centres for music and cultural expression.
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