Chinese food, Chinese products, Chinese films… what?s not to love? Agree film buffs in the national capital, who are these days being treated to a selection of films from the land of the dragon.
A joint initiative of India-China Economic and Cultural Council, the ministry of information and broadcasting and the state administration of press, publication, radio, film and television, People?s Republic of China, and Chinese Embassy in India, the China film festival is the first-of-its-kind in Delhi. The six-day festival, which concludes today, has featured a bouquet of films from acclaimed Chinese directors, with themes ranging from alternative and contemporary, action and adventure, new-age cinema and period dramas.
And while Han Sanping, chairman, China Film Group Corporation, says, ?We are happy to be a part of such a unique initiative. Films are a great way to communicate and connect. Through this festival we are making an attempt to not only connect with the Indian audience through our work, but also understand and learn about Indian tastes and culture?, the question is how far will both countries go to strengthen this relationship?
India has asked China to provide more access to Indian films and also raised the issue of giving landing rights to public broadcaster Doordarshan in China. China has a fixed quota for the number of international films, 34, that are allowed to be released every year. Information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewari says both sides had felt the need to further strengthen people-to-people contact. ?Both felt that enhanced cultural exchanges in the field of films, of personnel in our public broadcasters and cooperation between our private film industry and the industry in China and regular exchanges between our film institutes will help promote further understanding between our two countries.?
Indian films have always explored the nuances of India?s relations with China?from friend to foe?suggesting the potential for stronger ties between the two nations. V Shantaram?s 1946 film Dr Kotnis ki Amar Kahani reflected the nationalist sentiment and communist and revolutionary struggles across the globe. Following that we had Haqeeqat (1964), which paid homage to the soldiers who gave their lives in Ladakh defending India?s borders against Chinese intrusions in 1962. Almost four decades later, a comedy from Bollywood, From Chandni Chowk to China (2009), offered a 21st-century view of China?the first Bollywood film shot on location in China.
Better late than never. It seems China has started reciprocating the same for Indian films, though with limited access. Looking at the popularity of Aamir Khan-starrer 3 Idiots, it was dubbed in Chinese for students in China?s universities. Following this, official-level talks were held on working out ways to screen more Indian films in that country as well as enter into film co-production. The film academies of both countries?the Film and Television Institute of India and the Beijing Film Academy?are to have regular exchange programmes too. So is it time that more movies be screened in India and China?
?Yes,? says Jackie Chan, the Hong Kong-based actor who was also present at the inauguration of the festival. He feels more movies should be screened in India and China that can strive for a peaceful co-existence between the two neighbours. ?We cannot choose our neighbours. In fact, we should love each other; why hate each other?? questions the actor. For this, he is even ready to do a Bollywood film with traditional song and dance routines, provided the writer has the ability to make the people understand Indian culture. ?The people in China do not understand Indian culture…,? adds Jackie.
The film festival opened with the screening of Jackie Chan?s Chinese Zodiac. This, however, is not Jackie?s first visit to India. The actor shot several scenes of his film, The Myth (2005), which also starred Bollywood actor Mallika Sherawat, in Hampi, Karnataka, in 2004. He also visited Chennai in 2008 for the audio launch of Kamal Hasaan?s Dasavatharam.
The movies that were showcased at the festival include The Grandmasters from Wong Kar-Wai, internationally renowned as an auteur for his visually unique, highly stylised and emotionally resonant cinema; Back to 1942 by Feng Xiaogang, set during the 1942 famine and the prelude to the Japanese invasion in China; Lost in Thailand, a story of two ordinary Chinese who work to stop a Thailand tycoon, and along the way encounter many dangers to eventually learn the value of friendship and co-operation.
China?s box office grew by 36% to reach $2.7 billion in 2012, making it the world?s second-largest movie market after the US. And here in India, 14 million people go to the movies on a daily basis to watch over 800 films churned out each year by Bollywood, one of the largest producers of movies in the world. With many cultural similarities between India and China, Bollywood film-makers see a huge opportunity in the biggest Asian market.
However, China?s system of allowing a limited number of foreign films has been hampering the flow of movies from India. Till last year, China allowed only 20 foreign films a year, most of which were from Hollywood. Although the quota has been increased to 34 now, it is only for 3D or for big-screen IMAX formats, again benefiting only Hollywood.
Looking to change this perspective, India has invited China to be the principal guest country at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa next year. It has also requested China to send classical films for the festival later this year.
Tewari says there will be regular student and faculty exchanges between Indian film schools and the Beijing Film Academy, and between personnel from public broadcasters of both countries. Hopefully, these initiatives will change the Chinese perspective and China becomes more open to movies from this part of the subcontinent.
