It was established in 1994 mainly to attract filmmakers and tourists and originally named after former chief minister of Tamil Nadu MG Ramachandran JJ Film City by the AIADMK government.
When DMK returned to power in 1996 it was renamed MGR Film City after the popular actor and late Chief Minister M. G.
The MGR Film City has numerous sets built on various themes to serve as scenery for movies.
[3] Several movies including Avvai Shanmughi, Mudhalvan, Hey Ram and the launching ceremony of the shelved Marudhanayagam were shot at the MGR Film City.
[4][5] Although it experienced initial success, the film city fell back, accumulating a loss of 14 crores (140 million).