Brazil goes to Bollywood
The first nationally produced film co-produced by India bets on the gigantic Asian market and the power of its film industry, which produces 800 films annually – twice as many as Hollywood.
Natalia Rangel_247 - Forget Hollywood. The real deal is working in Bollywood, a land of film opportunities. Inspired by the emerging Indian market, "The Bollywood Dream" premieres this Friday, the 29th, inaugurating an artistic and commercial partnership between Brazil and India in the film industry. This is a long-held dream, as for a decade other countries around the world have discovered India's strong film potential and have brought many co-productions to the world, including the Oscar-winning film "Slumdog Millionaire," a partnership with the US and England. The growing interest is revealed in frequent awards at festivals and translates coldly into impressive numbers: currently, the Indian audiovisual industry produces 800 films a year – twice as many as the US. And more: last year, its industry grossed US$3,1 billion (in Brazil, US$1 billion).
And, with this promising scenario in mind, the debut film by Brazilian filmmaker Beatriz Seigner arrives in theaters this Friday, the 29th, produced with a budget of US$300. The plot, a story not far from reality, follows three Brazilian actresses who travel to India in search of work in Bollywood, which has been based in Mumbai (formerly Bombay – hence the "b" in Bollywood) for decades. The trio of friends is played by Paula Braun, Lorena Lobato, and Nataly Cabanas, and in the story, they will have to face the difficulties of the language, cultural differences, and get involved in many mix-ups during their travels through the country in search of a role in the exotic and professional Indian film industry.