The Tamil Nadu Government M.G.R. Film and Television Institute in Taramani offers a four-year Bachelor of Visual Arts in six film crafts, with just 14 seats in each, according to its 2024-25 prospectus. That makes 84 places a year, and the state’s 2021-22 policy note calls it the only government institute in India offering a bachelor’s degree in filmmaking.
Admission happens once a year, usually with a June deadline, so anyone finishing Class 12 who wants to work behind the camera should know the rules well in advance. This guide uses the latest prospectus available on the state portal; check the institute’s site for the current year’s notice.
History of the Taramani institute
The institute started in 1945 as a branch of the Central Polytechnic in Chennai and became a separate Institute of Film Technology around 1959-60. It has been on its present 5.25-acre campus in Taramani since 6 November 1964, and was renamed after M.G. Ramachandran on 9 August 2021, the policy note says. It is run by the Information and Public Relations Department and its degrees are awarded by the Tamil Nadu Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Music and Fine Arts University, as the Art and Culture Department’s 2024-25 policy note confirms.
Until 2018 it awarded a Diploma in Film Technology. The four-year degree replaced it.
The six courses
- Cinematography
- Digital Intermediate (colour grading and finishing)
- Audiography (sound recording and design)
- Film Editing
- Direction and Screenplay Writing
- Animation and Visual Effects
Each course has 14 seats: 12 for Tamil Nadu candidates under the state’s reservation rules, one for a candidate from another state, and one for a child of a film industry worker sponsored by the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce. One open-category Tamil Nadu seat in each course is kept for students from government schools.
Eligibility
The prospectus sets these conditions:
- Qualification: a pass in Class 12. The technical courses ask for Physics and Chemistry in Class 12, or a vocational course with photography, or a diploma in electrical, electronics or communication engineering. Some courses accept Class 12 in any group.
- Marks: 40% for OC, BC and MBC/DNC candidates; a pass for SC and ST candidates.
- Age: 24 or under on 1 July of the admission year, or 26 for SC and ST candidates.
How selection works
Selection combines Class 12 marks, an aptitude test and an interview, weighted differently by course:
| Course | Qualifying exam | Aptitude test | Interview |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cinematography, Digital Intermediate, Audiography, Film Editing | 60% | 25% (film review) | 15% |
| Direction and Screenplay Writing | 40% | 45% (film review and storytelling) | 15% |
| Animation and Visual Effects | 40% | 40% (film review, storytelling, drawing and painting) | 20% |
Interviews are held in Chennai at the candidate’s own cost. For direction and animation the aptitude test counts for almost as much as marks, so watching films closely and practising written reviews is the best preparation.
Fees and costs
The 2021-22 policy note puts tuition at Rs 15,000 a year, with a special fee of Rs 2,000 and a development fee of Rs 1,000. SC and ST students are exempt from tuition. The 2024-25 prospectus listed an application fee of Rs 200, or Rs 60 for Tamil Nadu SC and ST candidates, and warned that fees can be revised by government order. The state raised its grant for each student film from Rs 15,000 to Rs 50,000 from 2017-18, and set aside Rs 1.5 crore a year to hire current equipment.
Preparing for the aptitude test
The prospectus says the test is built around film review for every course, with storytelling added for direction and drawing for animation. Practical steps that help:
- Watch a range of Tamil and world films and write short reviews of 300 to 400 words that discuss camera, sound and editing, not just plot.
- For direction, practise writing a one-page story with a clear beginning, conflict and end.
- For animation, keep a sketchbook and bring examples of drawing and painting work to the interview.
- For cinematography and audiography, revise Class 12 physics basics on light and sound.
Dates and what is changing
The 2024-25 application deadline was 10 June 2024 at 5 pm. In 2025 the institute ran a later round to fill vacant reserved seats, with forms due by 30 July, Dinamalar’s Kalvimalar reported, with forms on filminstitute.tn.gov.in.
The 2024-25 IPR policy note said work on three modern shooting floors at the Taramani campus, estimated at Rs 39.33 crore, would begin soon. The address is C.I.T. Campus, Tharamani, Chennai 600 113.
Before paying fees or making plans, check the current year’s prospectus. An education counsellor can help if you are weighing this against private film schools.
Quick answers
How many seats does the MGR film institute have?
14 per course across six courses, so 84 a year.
What is the age limit?
24 on 1 July of the admission year, or 26 for SC and ST candidates.
Is there an entrance test?
Yes, an aptitude test plus an interview, combined with Class 12 marks.
What degree do students get?
A four-year Bachelor of Visual Arts from the state music and fine arts university.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- TN Govt MGR Film and Television Institute Prospectus 2024-25 (Government of Tamil Nadu)
- Information and Public Relations Department Policy Note 2021-22 (Government of Tamil Nadu)
- Information and Public Relations Department Policy Note 2024-25 (Government of Tamil Nadu)
- TN govt film institute invites applications for visual arts degree courses (Dinamalar Kalvimalar)
- Art and Culture Department Policy Note 2024-25 (Government of Tamil Nadu)
