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Trinidad & Tobago Gets $12M Bollywood Movie
Port of Spain August 20, 2006...A $12 million Bollywood movie will be filmed in Trinidad and Tobago
in November and December. Production will take place in India in
January and February and the movie will be launched in March 2007 to
coincide with India’s participation in the ICC World Cup campaign in
Trinidad. The movie, which will be titled “Dulha Mil Gaya (I found a husband),
will also feature TT’s batting maestro Brian Charles Lara and India’s
hero Sachin Tendulkar.
Sunday Newsday interviewed the two producers in London on Thursday
- Viveck Vaswani and Mudassar Aziz, who are now in Trinidad looking at
locations, meeting with Government officials and screening nationals to
be part of the movie.
Vaswani is excited about the movie, which will feature as the leading personality, former Miss Universe, Susmita Sen.
The idea for the film was realised in November 2005 when Vaswani,
44, was taking in Notting Hill Carnival in London. “I loved what I saw
and I wanted to be part of that. I asked myself, if that was what the
Caribbean was all about, why not be part of that. When I inquired, I
was told that was what Trinidad and Tobago was all about.”
Vaswani, who has featured in many Indian movies as an actor, said
he became excited about producing a film in TT. “So, I decided to make
two movies in your country, the first one will begin in November and
the second will follow. If these movies are successful, Trinidad and
Tobago will be a new location for Bollywood movies. I can see tourism
increasing and more money coming into your country.”
Vaswani said this was the chance of a lifetime for many nationals
of this country who want to be involved in the film industry and who
never had the opportunity before. “This is not about making two films
in your country, but setting up a film industry.”
The Indian producer returned to London five weeks ago and held
discussions with investors and Ashton Ford, attache to the TT High
Commission in London. Two persons flew to Trinidad and checked out
locations in Trinidad and Tobago. Vaswani also met in London with
Radica Saith, vice-chairman of the Tourism Development Company (TDC).
He then returned to Mumbai in India and held talks with Mahadeo Persad,
TT’ s High Commissioner to India.
Vaswani intends to film the movie in November and December. He will
return to India where production will be done in January and February.
Then, the premiere of the movie will be held in March in Port-of-Spain
to coincide with the opening of the Cricket World Cup, where India will
play in the preliminary stages.
The movie will feature calypso, chutney soca and dance, TT style.
Vaswani has heard about the local culture which he said will form a
great part of the movie. “I know the kind of movie I want, it will be a
musical, funfilled and hilarious movie. I am excited about this one,”
Vaswani added.
Mudassar Aziz, 25, has been involved in the movie business for only
three years. He joined as an apprentice to Vaswani. During this time,
he wrote a song for a Bollywood movie, and dialogue and lyrics for
Susmita Sen. This movie will be the first for Aziz as a director.
“I feel wonderful. It is a dream come true because as a youngster,
I wanted to be involved in this industry and look, here I am, working
with someone like Viveck. I have never been to your country, but I have
seen lots of it on video and on the internet.
Everyone in India knows cricket and knows about Trinidad, because
that is where the most successful batsman comes from. I am happy to say
that. I can tell you he (Lara) will be part of this film.”
Source: Newsday
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