India for film, TV barter with China

Chinese ballet on Doordarshan’s National Network. And Indian dance on CCTV. What next? Two days after a high-powered Chinese delegation...

Chinese ballet on Doordarshan’s National Network. And Indian dance on CCTV. What next? Two days after a high-powered Chinese delegation led by senior Minister for Radio, Films and TV of China, Xu Guangchun who likes Indian cinema for their dose of realism, called on CEO Prasar Bharati Corporation K.S. Sarma promising to indulge in cultural exchange, it was the turn of Information and Broadcasting Ministry Ravi Shankar Prasad to take the links to greater heights.

Prasad, after a day of negotiations with Xu Guangchun, said the two sides had reached an in-principle agreement to exchange movies, ink co-production deals and distribute films on animation for children on their respective TV channels.

Ministry officials will hope for theatrical releases of blockbuster Indian films in China. And with China producing close to 150 films each year and 250 telefilms, expect more Jackie Chans, Warriors of Heaven and Earth, Hero and more.

Story continues below this ad

As of now, there is little legitimate release of Indian films in China though the interest is immense, argue ministry officials. The Chinese Minister promised to act as an enabler for greater cultural exchange between the two countries.

The interest in China as a market for Indian films got a fillip after a Chinese delegation from CCTV promised to buy 100 Indian films two years ago. While that has not materialised, the Chinese followed it up with a theatrical release of Lagaan, making the Indian Government look at the Chinese market with renewed interest.

While Sarma said yesterday that the two sides would sign a series of MoUs for a cultural barter of sorts, it will be a while for the ties to be formalised. In the coming days, delegations from CII and FICCI are likely to talk to their Chinese counterparts to explore the possibilities of co-production.