By Rama Gaind
There is a rich tapestry of monuments, landmarks and buildings in China, but one can’t ignore the Bollywood connection which is now very easy to define.
Time needs to be taken first to enjoy the best-known tourist attractions including the Great Wall of China, the Temple of Heaven, Tian’anmen Square, ruins of the Old Summer Palace and the World Heritage sites of the Forbidden City and the Ming Dynasty Tombs. However, don’t forget the many other countless temples, cathedrals, mosques, museums, parks and relics of bygone ages.
India’s first Hindi film to be shot on location in China was Chandni Chowk to China starring Akshay Kumar and Deepika Padukone. Released in 2009, this is an action-comedy about a lowly Indian chef who is mistaken for the reincarnation of a fabled Chinese warrior.
It also stars Hong Kong action cinema expert Gordon Liu, a veteran of martial arts films and Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill series.
Directed by Nikhil Advani it was Hollywood studio Warner Brothers’ first Bollywood movie that’s meant to be entertaining.
The film came as tentative steps were taken for greater co-operation between the two nations. The first China film festival was held in New Delhi in 2008 amid talks of possible future joint cinematic ventures.
What’s more Bollywood films are becoming increasingly popular for Chinese movie buffs. Perhaps, they are rediscovering India through its colourful fashions and the romance of music and dance?
Whether you are in Guangdong, Nanchang, Shanghai or Beijing you are bound to meet Indians sightseeing, Indian restaurants or items in a store which remind you of home.
While in Jiangxi Province, channel surfing uncovered Aishwarya Rai Bachchan speaking in Chinese in Provoked – now that was an odd experience! Remember this 2007 UK-based English film directed by Jag Mundhra with a musical score by A.R. Rahman? It also stars Naveen Andrews, Miranda Richardson, Robbie Coltrane, Nandita Das and Steve McFadden. The film is based on the true story of Kiranjit Ahluwalia who killed her abusive husband.
Before Kiranjit’s appeal hearing the Southall Black Sisters brought her plight to the media’s attention by organising rallies for her freedom. She is ultimately freed by the judicial system in a landmark case called ‘R v Ahluwalia’, which redefined provocation in cases of battered women in the UK.
Pirate copies of Bollywood blockbusters like Dhoom 2 sell cheap, especially in Guangdong Province. If you sell upto 10 DVD copies a day, it’s considered a ‘good day’s’ trading. Engage in some deft bargaining and you could come up a winner. Even CDs of film songs are sold by hawkers at open markets. I’ve been told that finding an Indian VCD in Kunming near Yunnan University campus is not unusual.
However, one needs to be careful when it comes to getting a guarantee that a DVD and a CD is an original or a VCD is good copy. That’s a risk you have to take for paying bargain prices.
Many of us convert the money to Australian dollars and the payout is minimal. If that is the case, and the movie or the selection of songs, is of good quality – then the money has been well spent. You are then a sure winner.
As luck would have it, I was!
