By Laveena Francis
Only seven years after gaining independence from British rule, film maker, SK Ojha envisioned his opus magnum, Ashok Kumar-Nalini Jaywant starrer film, Naaz to be shot in the UK in 1954.
This film is still considered a milestone in Indian cinema’s history. Since then, the trend of shooting ‘abroad’ (in Europe), especially in the UK has been prevalent among Indian filmmakers.
Dil Wale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995) which is still running in Mumbai’s Maratha Mandir theatre for the last 28 years, has London’s prominent Trafalgar Square in its opening scene where Amrish Puri feeds the pigeons reminiscing India.
This film also had other landmarks including- Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the tower of London being featured in the movie. The latest movie to add onto the list is ‘The Buckingham Murders’ starring Kareena Kapoor Khan.
Over 50 Bollywood movies being shot in the United Kingdom in the last decade bears a testament to Bollywood’s profound love for the UK. Of the total, nearly half were shot in the capital of the country, London.
Iconic landmarks such as the Big Ben, Tower Bridge, London Eye, River Thames, Westminster Abbey, have been featured in several Hindi movies. Moreover, this obsession with London has also led to movies being christened as Namastey London, London Dreams, Welcome to London, London Paris New York, 1920 London, 7 Welcome to London, Ramji London waley, London Calling, Guest in London, London Confidential to name a few.
UK-based businessman, Tariq who has spent over four decades in England had relocated with his family from Pakistan and growing up developed a love for Bollywood movies.
His British accent reflects even when he speaks Hindi (which he calls Urdu), he and his family still love watching Hindi cinema and most of his conversations have reference to some Hindi movies or Hindi songs.
He says jokingly: “Most of my acquaintances and relatives who have come from Pakistan also love watching Hindi cinema even now. Even my children like Hindi cinema.”
Tariq isn’t the only one, despite the so called India-Pakistan rivalry, Pakistani population too contributes in the good overseas market of Bollywood movies.
Ahmed Raza, another fellow Pakistani and lover of Bollywood movies points out the Three Khan’s of Bollywood- Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Aamir Khan.
Raza said: “While Amir is my most favourite actor among the three Khans, I’m extremely excited for Shah Rukh’s forthcoming film Dunki which is set to release this Christmas.”
The UK is Europe’s largest cinema market and it has also been reciprocating the love by becoming a good overseas market for Bollywood movies.
According to the Film Distributors’ Association (FDA), Tiger-3 distributed by Yash Raj Films has been holding third position in the UK’s top 15 movies despite being in theatres for three weeks now, and already raking in £1,184,001. Recently released film The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds And Snakes is number one followed by The Marvels. It speaks a lot about UK audiences and their love for Bollywood.
According to the Box Office Moji by IMDb, this year, superstars Shahrukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, featured in Pathaan, the most popular movie in the world when it was released back in January this year . The total Foreign business for the movie was over 95 million dollars, sitting in the 33rd position. On the other hand Jawan, sits in the 79th position with $28 million dollars worldwide, accumulated through a Foreign box office of over 13 million dollars and domestic of around 15 million.
Sonam Shaikh who moved to the UK from India a few years ago explained why so many Indians living in the UK flock to see Bollywood films : “This is the only way to connect to our roots in the UK besides staying in touch with our family and friends.”
The Curve Magazine 