Mumbai masala in Toronto

Sixty per cent of Bollywood's upcoming blockbusters are being shot on foreign locales. The pre liberalization Hindi film industry made occasional films with a foreign peg. Movies like An Evening in Paris and Purab aur Pashchim stood out in good measure because audiences could look forward to ‘seeing' exotic places. Today no one blinks an eyelid when Kajol keeps the karva chauth in London (Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham) or Sunny Deol does the balle balle in Toronto (Yamla Pagla Deewana).

It is a phenomenon explained in part by the winds of globalization that are sending increasing numbers of Indians to live abroad. On the face of it this would justify the telling of immigrant stories. However film scholar Madulika Sengupta delves deeper and says, “The 20 million strong Indian diaspora, with an estimated combined wealth of over US $300 billion has made the overseas territory a factor in all considerations. Bollywood financiers are more interested in Indians buying (relatively expensive) tickets in dollars and pounds than in creatively exploring their lives.”

This assertion is borne out by several examples of Hindi film characters without any mooring to their geographical context. For instance, the bubble like world of New York Punjabis in Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna could easily have been transported to London or Melbourne with no impact on the narrative. In this film and many like it there is virtually no meaningful reference to living in the U.S. or interaction with American born characters.

At another level shooting overseas also fits in snugly with Bollywood's traditional role as a peddler of dreams. India with its pockets of beauty cannot match the eye candy aspect of vast western expanses. Sengupta adds, “Smaller budget (less formulaic) films are shot in India but the blockbuster producers usually make a beeline for the West. A generation that seeks the antiseptic world of a shopping mall for leisure doesn't usually like to see the clutter of the average Indian street on screen.”
Modern facilities

That would seem like an overly pessimistic critique to Sabbas Joseph of Wizcraft International. As director of a leading event management company he has successfully assisted linkages between Indian film producers and foreign city administrations. Wizcraft is also helping mount the upcoming International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards in Toronto as part of a drive to project the city as a destination for Hindi film projects. Joseph says, “Shooting Bollywood films abroad is a mutually beneficial relationship. Apart from providing multiple scenic landscapes, they offer all the facilities of a modern global city.” Jim Nickel, the Deputy High Commissioner of Canada in India who was present at the recently held IIFA press conference spoke persuasively on the theme. “Canada welcomes the Indian film industry with open arms. We promise to provide a cinema-friendly environment with all manner of technical assistance,” he said. Actor Anil Kapoor who was also present on the occasion seconded this emotion by saying, “I have been very impressed by the warmth of the Canadian people. There is a high level of production values and scale of project the country provides.”

There are other benefits to both — overseas exhibition and shooting. The income earned abroad is tax-free, since export earnings of cinema and television programmes are tax-exempt. (Incidentally, 30 per cent of the overseas revenue of Indian films comes from North America.) In terms of shooting, producers are relieved to have single window clearance and not grapple with the endless bureaucracy that is a staple scourge in India. The incentive of luxurious recreation (and a reprieve from the Indian summer) can ensure that elusive stars agree to bulk shooting dates. Travel and production costs are sometimes cheaper given the tight schedules at international locations.
Benefits for hosts

The trend has a pay off for the host nation as well. Apart from the revenue, they appreciate the fact that the locations used tend to become popular tourist destinations for Indian travellers. Switzerland was one of the first countries to experience an increased flow of Indian tourist traffic due to exposure in Hindi movies — the Swiss Alps being a popular film location. Following Switzerland's experience, other countries such as the U.K., Australia, Singapore, Thailand, the UAE (Dubai), Austria, South Africa and Egypt joined the bandwagon. Today Canada looks set to lead the pack. Apart from various other incentives, it recently named a street after the iconic Indian showman, Raj Kapoor. It has also enrolled actor Akshay Kumar as its tourist brand ambassador.

Creative collaboration or relationship of convenience, call it what you will. With both sides wooing each other, this story seems to have all the makings of a Bollywood style “happy ending”.

the hindu

IIFA to hold Raj Kapoor film festival in Toronto

Mumbai, March 4 (IANS) The 12th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) weekend, to be held in Toronto this year, will organise a Raj Kapoor retrospect.

'I have been part of IIFA since 12 years now and for the last four years I have been performing consecutively. But this year is going to be more special to me because Wizcraft and IIFA are having a Raj Kapoor retrospect,' Kareena, grand-daughter of Raj Kapoor, told reporters here Friday.

'It's going to be very special and emotional. I'm very excited about that than anything else because Raj Kapoor was not only my grandfather but a man, who defined Hindi cinema,' she added

The IIFA weekend will be held across the cities of Toronto, Brampton, Mississauga and Markham in the Greater Toronto Area from June 23-25.

Filmmaker Karan Johar, who is also the advisory board member of IIFA, said the retrospect will be held in association with the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

'TIFF is a great platform that has supported Hollywood and world cinema for many years. Recently, its association with Hindi cinema has been tremendous and now it brings the golden era man Raj Kapoor on the surface of the Hollywood industry. It's a great idea which is supported by IIFA,' said Karan.

Apart from this, the three-day show will feature world premiere of a select films, an awards gala, a fashion show and other interactive events.

Khushboo decides a comeback in Bollywood

Khushboo is poised to return to Hindi cinema, after three decades. After the historical verdict of the Supreme Court in defence of her statement on premarital sex, Khushboo has never felt freer and more liberated from gender biases.

“I now know I can speak my mind freely, that freedom of speech does exist in our country and we’ve a completely dependable judiciary.” she said from Chennai on Sunday afternoon. There’s more a sense of relief than triumph at Bollywood child- star turned Tamil superstar Khushboo’s residence in Chennai after her much –misconstrued comments on pre-marital sex which in 2005 provoked 22 criminal cases against her, were defended by a special bench of the Supreme Court last week. In a historic verdict the honourable Supreme Court opined that two people living together are not an offence.


Speaking from Chennai, Khushboo is elated but guarded to begin with. “My family has seen what I’ve gone through. Though I remained calm and collected throughout .Till the judgement is not given I can’t speak too much on this. But yes it has been a trying time. I’d like to say the whole controversy erupted on a very wrong statement attributed to me. I never said it’s okay to have pre-marital sex. My statement was that if two people have consensual sex they must use protection. The statement was twisted and distorted for the convenience of whoever chose to make an issue out of my genuine concern for the health of youngsters today.”
Says Khushboo defensively, “I stand by what I had said. What was wrong in my saying, if you have pre-marital sex you have to safeguard yourself? I never said its fine to indulge in pre-marital sex. My words were twisted, and padded up to suit the purposes of various individuals and political organizations. I didn’t try to correct the distortions because those were misrepresenting my words wouldn’t have listened to me.”

Khushboo things it was a gender bias that generated a sense of outrage at her harmless statement. “They probably don’t expect Indian actresses to have a mind of their own and the courage to express themselves freely. Just because it was Khushboo and she made sense, they couldn’t take it.”

Khushboo was present at the Supreme Court hearing for the latest verdict. “So far I had only seen courtroom’s in films. I was there for five hours for the hearing. At the end of it, what a relief it was to hear what the honourable Chief Justice and his honourable colleagues had to say. I realized there’s an absolute sense of justice in this country. It was heartening.”
Khushboo now feels she has an extra social responsibility. “I feel now I’ve to be even more careful in my conduct and statements. People are looking at me and up to me. What I say has to make sense and in public interest. As for those who attacked me they were just some self-motivated people paid by a few political parties to malign me. And those who protested against me were definitely not my fans.”

Contrary to reports Khushboo says the temple in her honour built by her fans still stands in Tiruchirapalli in Tamil Nadu. “The temple is very much there. My well-wishers don’t need to worry. Lately I haven’t been doing too many movies. Since I got married ten years ago I’ve been rather laidback about my film career. Now I’ve my own television production company and we also produce movies. Our production house has to its credit one of the longest-running game shows in Tamil.”
Says the actress, “I make sure I’ve time for family. In the last ten years I’ve done just 3-4 films. Ghar mein do betiyan hain. And I wouldn’t like to travel for outdoors away from home for too long. I’m happily married, touchwood, with two growing daughters. They are prettier than I could ever be. Yes, it has been quite a journey from being a child artiste in Hindi, to a leading lady in Mumbai then Chennai…I’ve never had time to look back except to take stock of my mistakes. I started looking after my entire family at the age of 16 because my parents separated. I took care of my mom and three older brothers and that too on my own terms. So being uncompromising in my thought and actions comes naturally to me. Of course I’ve made mistakes. But I’ve learnt from them.”

Khushboo says very few of her colleagues from Mumbai have kept in touch with her. “Except of course dear old Govind(Govinda). Me and Govind are bum-chums. I turn around to his wife Sunita and say, ‘I’ve let you have him for 26 years. I can still run away with him.’ We’ve kept up our long-distance relationships. We’re just a phone call away from each other I’ve also kept in touch with Madhoo and Rajeev Kapoor. Not many people know about my friendship with Rajeev. From the time I was a child till today we’ve kept in touch. I never did a film with him. I was supposed to when I started playing a heroine. But he felt I was too young.”

And now Khushboo is all set to return to Hindi films with a film to be directed by Revathy Varhma. Says Khushboo, “I can’t remember the last Hindi film I did …Oh yes, it was Deeewna Mujhsa Nahin with Aamir Khan and Madhuri Dixit.”

Adds Khushboo, “My husband Sunder has been a pillar of strength throughout my fight for justice. The main reasons why I stood up and fought against elements who distorted and attacked my statements on pre-marital sex were my daughters. I cannot show my girls I’m weak. I didn’t want them to feel that their mother caves in during times of pressure. I had to tell them that their mother is strong and they should be proud of her.”