If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!
Apparently, that's the motto of Hollywood moneymongers these days when it comes to Bollywood.
Unbeknownst to me, prior to the reading of today's NYTimes, Sanjay Leela Bhansali will hereafter have the distinction of directing the first Bollywood film produced by a Hollywood studio. Sony Pictures is footing most of the bill for Bhansali's next flick Saawariya.
That's serious business. Studios are notoriously risk adverse. I guess they figure there's enough people in India that if even 20% of the population checks the film out they'll be ok? Naturally, if everything goes as planned, more studios will probably jump on the Bollywood bandwagon. I have only two words for that: HRITHIK ROSHAN. Recognize.
As for Saawariya, it features everyone's favorite stalker boyfriend, Salman Khan, and the smoky-voiced Rani Mukerji. If nothing else, judging by Sanjay's previous work, I expect fabulously indulgent cinematography, more than enough reason to see the film without bothering with the storyline. ; )
Talk amongst yourselves.
[Click the photo to go to the NYTimes article.]
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3 comments:
The backdoor entry of hollywood studios is actually a good thing for bollywood -
1) With adequate financing audiences won't have to suffer product placements in the movies
2) It will help in reducing the clout of the underworld in films
3) Just like Hollywood movies have difficulty getting decent theatres in India to show their movies, Indian movies face the same problem in the US. These studios have the marketing muscle to actually increase the reach of bollywood movies and can bring them to mainstream American theatres.
The arrangement would work only if they limit their participation to financing and do not meddle too much in the actual movie making.
Anyways major changes won't be accepted by the audience itself and this is something the Sony guys seem to have understood.
I wonder how Sony will handle suing Salman's brother and getting him to work in their next movie at the same time.
At the very least it will bring an end to the rampant piracy in Bollywood today!
I agree with nic in regards to the arrangement only working if the Hollywood studios stay out of the creative process.
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