The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau (SLTPB) welcomed the very first set of top production houses of Bollywood over a six-day visit to explore film shooting locations.
The visiting producers, including makers of Padmaavat, Bajirao Mastani, Gully Boy, Lust Stories, Archies and Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway, among others, arrived on September 5, where in addition to looking at fresh sites, met with the officials of Sri Lanka Tourism and local film industry partners.
The producers covered Colombo, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Hambantota and Kalutara, the SLTPB said in a statement to the media.
India is the world’s largest film producer, taking over all the other popular cinemas, including Hollywood. Annually, India creates over 2000 films and many OTT (web) series.
“The focus of this promotion is to increase overall destination awareness about ‘Shooting In Sri Lanka’ among production house executives representing key Indian film/OTT production houses in Mumbai (Bollywood) and encourage Indian filmmakers to choose Sri Lankan film locations along with the relevant services from international film service providers in Sri Lanka,” the SLTPB said in a statement to the media.
By facilitating the Indian film and OTT productions in Sri Lanka, the SLTPB expects the tourism sector to generate greater foreign income via hospitality, transportation and other logistical services.
“Most importantly, we hope to popularise Sri Lankan locations, local culture and way of life via the Indian entertainment industry to influence Indian travellers to visit Sri Lanka as a must-visit holiday destination,” the SLTPB added.
Jio Studios (part of Reliance Industries) Film Content Head Shobha Sant sharing her views on the island nation said that she would “sincerely” try to come back to Sri Lanka for a film shoot.
“The service, food culture and environment of Sri Lanka are very similar to India and with the right support from the local film industry and government bodies, we will be able to build a mutually beneficial and sustainable industry,” said Sant.
Tiger Baby CEO Angad Dev Singh, sharing his experience about Sri Lanka as a filming destination, noted the country is a captivating shooting location.
“… not only due to its exceptional beauty and unique cultural diversity but also because of the myriad opportunities it presents for filmmakers. The country’s diverse landscapes, ranging from pristine beaches and lush forests to ancient temples and bustling urban settings, offer a versatile canvas for storytelling,” he said.
Reflecting similar sentiments, Emmy Entertainment CEO Karan Joshi stated that visiting Sri Lanka is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
“The country is beautiful and vibrant, much like its people and their hospitality is world-class. The sights are unmatched and the natural beauty is untarnished.
Many of the locations I visited during this tour are ideal for projects we shall be starting in the near future. I’m looking forward to shooting in Sri Lanka with the government’s help, which has already given us such a wonderful experience,” said Joshi.
This is the second film location familiarisation trip organised for 2023 by the SLTPB that focused on Indian cinema. In April, Sri Lanka welcomed a film delegation from Kannada cinema.
Sri Lanka Travel Feneteko