Silambarasan TR

The first Indian "Bollywood" cinema production ever to film in Malta completed shooting last weekend.

The musical dance sequences of this romantic story, titled "Vinnai Thandi Varuvaya" (Will you come from the Sky?), were filmed in various localities in Malta and Gozo, namely Mdina, Valletta, Ghaxaq, Floriana, Kalkara, Birgu, San Lawrenz, Salina, Msida, Ghar Lapsi, Comino, Anchor’s Bay, Mellieha and Dingli.

Bollywood productions are movies produced out of India and are typical for their love stories mixed with dance sequences with a unique Bollywood style. India statistically has the largest film industry in the world and Indians are known to flock in large numbers to watch their love stories and romantic songs being danced in their signature way.

"Vinnai Thandi Varuvaya” is directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon, best known for his numerous successfull action films. Two of his last eight movies have been shot in the United States. The music score is by Oscar winning music director A.R.Rahman ("Slumdog Millionaire").

The film-makers are based in Southern India where the "Bollywood" slang is actually dubbed as "Kollywood". The company specializes in slick Tamil movies with an international flair, giving a lot of importance to technical excellence.

The film stars two of the most sought after Indian actors in South India, Trisha Krishnan and Tesingu Rajendar Silambarasan. In Indian cinema the stars are traditionally referred as the “heroine” and “hero”. During their work in Malta they were often asked for autographs by Indian tourists who immediately recognized their "heros".

The film shooting in Malta had hardly started when the Indian press began generating substantial publicity about Malta. The Chennai Times of India reported about “the fierce competition amongst Kollywood directors to shoot in never-seen-before locations”. Getting entry visas is often a problem but director Gautham Menon is reported to have “discovered a new location – the beautiful islands of Malta”. Gautham has now made headlines in India movie news as the “first director from South India to shoot a film in Malta”.

The Times of India reported about how Indian producers are desperately trying to get visas for their team to travel to exotic

overseas locations. Malta is reported to be somewhat “easier to get visas” because it is a small country and such countries are reported as “bending backwards with offers of visa on arrival and location subsidies to Kollywood”.

The PCP, representing the Indian film-makers, showed appreciation towards the Malta Film Commission and the Malta High Commission in New Delhi who have helped tremendously in processing the visas in a speedy manner.

The decision to film in Malta was made barely 10 days prior and the short-notice was mainly due to the availability of the two main stars. The director therefore made a very rough pre-selection of Maltese locations using photographs sent via the internet.

The producers’ initial reaction upon landing in Malta was that the island was too small to offer the variety of locations they were after, but a recce around Malta and Gozo immediately convinced them not only to forego the consideration of including other countries in their shoot, but to extend their original filming schedule on the island by three days. In total the crew filmed for eight days.

Picturesque locations have been chosen for the song sequences and great efforts have been made to showcase Malta and Gozo in a very recognizable manner. The film will be released in India this September and will later also reach international audiences in various countries with large Indian communities.

Dancers and choreographer were brought in from London and although there was no time for local casting two Maltese dancers were found at very short notice. Maltese dancer Melvin Monreal was highly praised by the British film choreographers.

Director Gautham intends to return to Malta next year to shoot entirely his upcoming Action film.

The producers and the PCP would like to publicly thank the following entities for making the last minute preparations of this filming possible.

The Armed Forces of Malta for providing a helicopter at short notice for filming high screen-value shots over Comino.

The Malta High Commission in New Delhi and the Malta Film Commission for their processing of all visas and related permissions.

The various councils of Malta and Gozo, particularly the mayors of Valletta and Mdina who have shown their 100% unconditional support to very extensive filming in their localities.

Thanks : Times of Malta.