New To Singapore
Know Your India
Focus Stories #Singapore
Analysis & Commentary
NRI Stories
Spotlight - @work
India seeks partnership with Hollywood to boost domestic film industry
#India News USA
Pradeep Rana Tuesday, May 14th 2019
With a view to strengthen the global reach of the Indian film industry, the Indian mission in the US has been exploring the possibility of a partnership between Hollywood and Bollywood.
Priyanka Chopra and Dwayne Johnson aka The Rock of WWE fame in 'Baywatch'. Photo Courtesy: Priyanka Daily, Twitter
Indian Ambassador to the US Harsh Shringla travelled to Los Angeles last week and met with the president of Paramount Television Nicole Clemens in this regard. The two sides discussed ways to step up collaboration of Hollywood with the Indian film industry.
Ambassador Shringla and Clemens, recently appointed president of Paramount TV, and other executives of the company talked of "further strengthening of media and entertainment industry collaboration between India and USA."
Congressman Brad Sherman from the San Fernando Valley and Indian Consul General in San Francisco Valley Sanjay Panda hosted a reception for Ambassador Shringla and the Indian community at Greater Los Angeles Area. Noting the sizeable presence of Indian-Americans in, Sherman suggested India could open a consulate office in Greater LA Area as well. Sherman is co-chair of India caucus and vocal advocate of stronger India-US defence cooperation.
A reception in #LosAngeles co-hosted by Amb @HarshShringla & #Congressman @BradSherman, co-Chair of the House #India Caucus, saw an excellent turnout of over 120 #Indian community representatives based in Southern #California and the presence of @MayorHarrySiddhu of #Anaheim City pic.twitter.com/2F8YRgrWA3
— India in USA (@IndianEmbassyUS) April 28, 2019
Shringla also called on Los Angles Mayor Eric Garcetti and discussed the ways to expand economic ties between Los Angeles and India in trade, infrastructure, technology and entertainment. Garcetti reportedly agreed to lead a trade delegation to India soon.
Ambassador Shringla also met Micheal D Rich, the CEO of Rand Corporation, and research analysts at Rand and Chief Operating Officer Randy Witring of AECOM, a USD 21 billion infrastructure giant that has invested heavily in smart cities, ports, Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor metro rail and other projects in India.
Ambassador Harsh Shringla visited Paramount Pictures and met Nicole Clemens, President and other senior executives of ParamountTV. Photo courtesy: Indian Embassy in the US.
In the US, Indian-Americans represent one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in North America, with the latest census data showing a 69.4% increase in their numbers in the United States between 2000 and 2010, and similar growth in Canada. And as a whole, they tend to be extraordinarily avid consumers of films compared to the general population, with per capita film ticket purchases better than 50% higher than average, according to a FICCI study.
Spoke with Indian Ambassador @harshvshringla today as he visits the San Fernando Valley and meets with community leaders including Dr. Amarjit Singh Marwah, Jaspal Singh and others. pic.twitter.com/ADrWdsJ8VO
— Rep. Brad Sherman (@BradSherman) April 27, 2019
Indian filmmakers and North American distributors and exhibitors alike cater well to this audience. At any given time over 1,000 film screens in the territory may be dedicated to showing Indian films.
Dubbed versions of Hollywood moves have been super-hit among the Indian audience and provide a boost to overall box office collections. The box office collection of the top ten Hollywood movies stood at INR4.8 billion in 2017 – a 40% increase over 2016 and 300% since 2015.
Titles such as Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, Thor, Hulk or Justice League, stories about superheroes battling supervillains in a fantasy world have turned out to be the hit formula for Hollywood at the Indian box office this year. These titles have changed the game with highly anticipated franchise films and sci-fi/action spectacles offering stiff competition to Indian releases, especially in the Bollywood demographic, often doing better than Indian films which released alongside.
The box office collections of Hollywood (inclusive of all the Indian language dubbed versions) in India remained stagnant in 2017, totalling INR8.01 billion, as against INR7.95 billion in 2016. This makes for 13% of the total theatrical box office. After three consecutive years of healthy growth since 2013, Hollywood footfalls in India has remained stagnant at 75 million last year, down from 78 million in 2016.
However, an increasing number of Indian stars have also made their mark in the Hollywood, such as Priyanka Chopra in Baywatch and Deepika Padukone in xXx: Return of Xander Cage.
Deepika Padukone in 'xXx: The Return of Xander Cage' as as Serena Unger in Vin Diesel of Hollywood's 2001 blockbuster 'Fast & Furious' fame. Photo courtesy DeepikaHolics, Twitter
India is also witnessing rising adoption of Hollywood films particularly in the regional markets where they find an audience in both locally dubbed language and English.
Over 60% of Hollywood's revenue comes from outside the US. Only 10% of Indian film revenues come from outside India. And 95% of that 10% comes from Indian diaspora viewers.
Citing an example of BaahuBali, FICCI says there is a need to re-invent across themes that resonate in India and across the border.
"The success of Baahubali series at the box office spins out valuable lessons: It's a wake-up call for the segment: The need is for a spectacle which can open in as many screens as possible across languages and borders. Baahubali confirmed the Hollywood strategy of big-budget franchises where the story, character and viewing experience is of paramount importance to drive audiences, and the success will, in turn, create stars out of good actors, and one does not require major actors for these concept films. The success of the series has certainly jolted the thinking of film makers across India and large projects have been announced, the study says.
Deepika Padukone (left) in a scene from 'xXx: The Return of Xander Cage' as Serena Unger with Ruby Rose as Adele Wolff the sniper in Vin Diesel of Hollywood's 2001 blockbuster 'Fast & Furious' fame. Photo courtesy: DeepikaHolics, Twitter
India has also emerged as a key animation development market. The growth of the industry is expected to get a boost as Hollywood studios tap India's large pool of low-cost, English- speaking animators who are familiar with the western culture. The present trend of increased consumption in tier II and tier III Indian cities is creating even more opportunities for the industry.
The animation sector in India has been growing at a steady pace over the past few years and reached INR17 billion in 2017, registering a growth of 13% over 2016. It is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11% till 2020, it adds.
Bollywood Hollywood Movies
Pradeep Rana – Senior Correspondent
Pradeep Rana has worked as a journalist with news ​agencies UNI and PTI, newspapers Indian Express and The Times Of India, and television channel NHK as South Asia Correspondent. He has also worked as Media Analyst at US Embassy, and edited several magazines and a medical handbook.
Which service do you use to transfer money for personal use to India?
Remittance services
Wire Transfer services like Western Union, Remit2India
International Money Order
Watch the first-ever 3D poster of an Indian comedy
Manikarnika music launch: Kangana's journey from ruler to warrior showcased in 'Vijayi Bhava'
#DeshPremJatao says Prasoon Joshi at Manikarnika album launch
Movie Review: A Divine (and Naezy) inspiration led to the making of this movie on the Indian Hip-Hop music scene.
Chance to be 'Rubaru' with Subodh Bhave, a legend in making
'Manikarnika' Shot Across 70 Locations to Showcase Historic Era
Other Popular Stories
The announcement of India's first comedy releasing in 3D, Welcome To New York, was done in an interesting way. A chat featuring the cast...
CtoI News DeskJanuary 18th 2018 Entertainment
India's relationship with South East Asia's goes back over 2,000 years: Jawed Ashraf
The ASEAN India Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) will be held on January 6-7, 2018 at the Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. In an exclusive...
Punam SharrmaDecember 19th 2017 PBD Singapore 2018 #PBD2018
Dial D for Diaspora: ASEAN's Indians set to play big role in country's resurgence and influence
The excitement and buzz around the ASEAN India Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD), to be held in Singapore, is palpable. The event is a showcase...
Punam SharrmaDecember 8th 2017 PBD Singapore 2018 NRI Stories #PBD2018
Tough IPL auction ahead for CSK, can't retain all former teammates, says Dhoni
Indian cricket superstar Mahendra Singh Dhoni at the launch of his academy at St Patrick's School on the East Coast Road in Singapore. Dhoni...
CtoI News DeskJanuary 20th 2018 Singapore #India
Meet Piyush Gupta, digital banking champion
An astute business leader Piyush Gupta, CEO and Director, DBS Group was one of the first banking sector honchos to usher a forceful,...
Punam SharrmaDecember 22nd 2017 Global citizen Spotlight - @work @work
Select topics that interest you
News	 Preview
Business	 Preview
New To Singapore	 Preview
Movies	 Preview
Know Your India	 Preview
World Cup 2019	 Preview
LifeStyle	 Preview
Events	 Preview
Connected to India
Focus Story #Singapore
©2016. ConnectedtoIndia. All rights reserved.