UK calling Bollywood

Ronjita Das

This is one trend that's here to stay.

Hindi filmmakers have long been enamoured with shooting abroad.

Now, it's almost run-of-the-mill these days for big budget films. Take Mohabbatein, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Ishq, Pyaar Aur Mohabbat, Yaadein and Kandukondain Kandukondain.

The current favourite for filmmakers seems to be UK. An average of 15 to 20 films are shot there every year.

Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and England are some of the most frequented locales.

"There are 24 film commissions across UK. The country is divided into 24 regions, with a film commissioner for each region," says Alison Sawkill, Head of Information of the British Film Commission. (BFC)

"But this is not a recent trend emerging in the film industry," says Prem Subramaniam, manager of the British Tourist Authority (BTA). "There have been many films in the past which have been shot in UK. Right from Raj Kapoor's Sangam, which was probably the first film in colour, to be shot overseas.

"But recently, shooting abroad has increased mostly because of the huge success of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.

"There are many reasons for this emerging trend. One is because we have launched a movie map of the UK, which shows the different locations of Hollywood films shot in UK, like Braveheart, Rob Roy, Lock Ness and Four Weddings And A Funeral. And the awareness arising out of this has encouraged Indian filmmakers to shoot in these exotic places.

"Also, Tony Blair's government has encouraged other communities to find expression in their original cultures and roots. So in the South Asian community in Britain, one sees a re-emergence of their traditional background, maybe in the field of food, music or entertainment.

"What's more, you also get the commitment of stars in these outdoor shoots. So usually, these filmmakers get the star dates for maybe a week, and may decide to shoot a sequence sooner than it would have taken in Bombay. During the summers, stars prefer holidaying in Europe than be around in Bombay, anyway. So it turns out to a work-cum-pleasure trip for them.

"And, of course, the exotic locations are very appealing in the song and dance sequences."

The BTA and the BTC are advisory bodies, which help in giving all kinds of information and advice for free. Explains Subramaniam, "The BTA doesn't really make money out of this. To take an example, because of our advice, Yash Chopra took his cast and crew to Britain to shoot Mohabbatein.

"The money spent by these people for accommodation, food, shopping etc, gets pumped in the economy. And the economy gets a big boost. That is our purpose. We are aided by the government to perform this activity."

"This has helped tourism. When people go to watch a film shot abroad, the stunning visuals make them want to go to that place. But they may not know where it is. That's what the BTA also does. All the details about going to that particular place is furnished by the BTA.

"For example Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. We tell the people that it is been shot in Scotland, how to go there and where to stay. Besides that, we may also get testimonials from the actors and actresses.

"So if Shah Rukh Khan says on camera, that Scotland is a beautiful place, people will be attracted to the place, because his opinion has a lot of credibility."

The result? Indians from all parts of the world flock to Britain. Surprisingly, Indians residing in London are also said to prefer to go to Scotland for a holiday, rather than other parts of Europe.

Indian cinema, for its part, is very popular in the UK. In fact, Mohabbatein is currently number seven in the UK top ten.

In most towns in UK, with about 12 cinemas in a multiplex, there is at least one screen showing only Hindi films at any given time.

"In Glasgow, there is one theatre called the Bombay Cinema which only shows Bollywood films," says Kevin Cowle, Film Commissioner, Scotland. "When Kuch Kuch Hota Hai was released in Britain, it became one of the most popular films. It made around 1.3 million pounds sterling!"

The question that arises is why is it better to shoot abroad than in India? Subramaniam hastens to justify, "Between April and September, it is very difficult to shoot in India. This is because the monsoons are on and outdoor shooting is a difficult proposition.

"Earlier, filmmakers preferred Kashmir at this time. But now, that is not viable, due to the unrest. So they look for an alternate venue abroad.

"There are also filmmakers like Sooraj Barjatya, who have never gone for an overseas production.

"But out of the 170 films shot each year in India, maybe 50 or 60 look for overseas locations. And about 15 out of these 50 films break BO records."

The procedure for filming in UK is quite simple.

The producer first has to contact the BFC and talk to Sawkill. He then has to specify his requirements and give as much information as he can.

Sawkill then contacts commissioners all over the UK and passes on the information. They look around in their photo libraries and around their region to see if they have anything suitable. Then they contact the producers directly and pass on photographs and information about their region.

Ishq, Pyaar Aur Mohabbat and Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, are the latest films that have Britain as their backdrop location.