The war in Ukraine has been cruel and has had a devastating effect on that country and those around it. It has affected Russia too. Sanctions have been imposed on that country. Companies have shut operations affecting economic life. Hollywood the American film industry has decided to boycott that country leaving cinema halls empty. Savvy Russian cinema owners have looked to India and commenced screenings of Bollywood blockbusters. For old timers this would be a case of history repeating itself. Film producers in the state had quite a bit to say about this development.
Darshan Lolienkar who made RDX had much to
say about this development. He said Bollywood movies were being watched by
Russians for ages. Raj Kapoor, he pointed out, was the star of Russia.
Bollywood movies, he said, were watched passionately by the average Russian. He
said “I remember he brought down the entire Russian circus for the shooting of
his film Mera Naam Joker. This was the nature of the relationship between
Russia and Bollywood. Russia has been accepting our films for a very long time
and so this development is nothing new”
Rajesh Pednekar a creative producer and the man behind Kajroo
said for the industry to get another territory was always a great development.
He said “Russian have always been crazy about Bollywood. Earlier they used to
be huge fans of Raj Kapoor but now the kind of movies we make are so different.
We make movies about war, the attack on the parliament. I don’t know how they
would be able to love that. Perhaps they would love the musicals. I am aware
the generations have changed and if the market opens and they want to watch the
movies then great. Emotion is great and it should pull in the crowds. Let’s
hope for the best.”
Another producer who seemed quite enthused by the development
was Madhav Gad. He said Russia in many ways was banking on India. There was, he
said, a vacuum created by the exit of several companies and restrictions put in
place and now this was an opportunity for Bollywood to step in. He said
“Certain movies from India went to China and earned millions which were far in
excess of the Indian market. After that market it seems Russia is now the next
big market to tap. Of course we have a history with the Russians of a certain
generation being quite aware of Indian cinema. That can only make life easier
for us.”
Rajendra Talak who is known for award winning movies like O
Maria felt what was happening in Ukraine was tragic and this was a development
due to that war. Russia, he said, was very familiar with Indian films which were
screened in that country and this was helped by the fact both the countries had
very good relationships. The Indian film industry had an appeal worldwide and
this was visible in Indian movies being dubbed in German and being screened in
that country to packed cinemas. He hoped the situation improved and Indian
movies would be able to find a number of screens and retain the charm that many
Russians felt for the cinema.
History seems like it is repeating itself. Perhaps the charms of Ranbir Kapoor the grandson of Raj Kapoor will help continue the Russian love affair with Indian cinema.
