Bollywood Goes Global!
December 23, 2005
Sandeep Hattangadi
Cybernoon
India has always been the largest film making country
in the world. It makes about 800 films in various
Languages, but it hardly had any international presence.
Hollywood was the only film industry that had an audience
all over the globe. We just had to make do with shooting
in beautiful locations like the Swiss Alps or the
Tulip Garden in Amsterdam. But around the 90’s
there was a great resurgence in the overseas market
for Hindi Films. The NRI population in the UK, USA
& Australia were thronging to watch Hindi films.
The overseas rights of Hindi films were sold at astronomical
prices.
The success of ‘Hyderabad Blues’ started
the trend of Hinglish films. Directors like Mira Nair
& Gurinder Chhadha made crossover films, which
found ready audiences in urban metros. The multiplex
audience became a brand for the filmmakers. Films
were made keeping the multiplex audience in mind.
The Hollywood majors who began dubbing their films
in Hindi and other regional languages observed this
trend, and it did good business.
The appeal of the Indian stars was now internationally
acclaimed. Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai became
international brand names. Any show and event starring
Hindi film stars was a sell out in any part of the
world. The IFFA awards became a global event. Ash
was invited on the prestigious Oprah Winfrey Show.
Indian Films were appreciated at the Cannes &
Oscar’s. Hollywood producers like Willard Caroll
came to India to make ‘Marigold’ starring
Salman Khan. A big entertainment conglomerate like
SPE (Sony Pictures Entertainment) that previously
had an interest in the music industry has now launched
a big film to be directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
The film ‘Sawariya’ might just be the launch
vehicle for Rishi Kapoor’s son Ranbir Kapoor
and Anil Kapoor’s daughter Sonam in the romantic
lead.
Ram Gopal Varma is to direct an international project,
‘Within’ for Percept starring big Hollywood
stars. Percept is producing ‘Tree Of Life’
starring Colin Farrel. Looks like soon it’s time
for the biggies of Hollywood like Warnar Bros, Columbia
Tristar & Miramax to shine on the Indian silver
Screen.
