Japan calling .......

It interesting to note that there is a increasing demand for Bollywood films in Japan. The Japanese are not novice to Indian films. One of the biggest super star of India-Rajnikant is an all time hit in Japan. All his films release simultaneously in Jaoan and I have been told that the Japanese women swoon over the super star. But, the latest entrant into the Japanese market is Bollywood. For a while now the Japanese buyers have been scouting for good Hindi films with universal themes to release in Japan. Yash Raj Films was the first studio to crack it with two of its latest films Kabir Khan's Ek Tha Tiger and Shah Rukh Khan starrer Jab Tak Hai Jaan. Soon to follow behind YRF is Eros International which will release its 6 year old film Farah Khan's romantic thriller Om Shanti Om. Om Shanti Om will release across 15 screens in Japan on April 16. Subtitled in Japanese, the film has been renamed as 'Koi Suru Rinne' . Koi Suru means to Fall in love and Rinne means reincarnation. 

Bollywood has been looking for newer markets to showcase its films. It has now moved beyond the Asian diaspora in the overseas market and realised that its films are finding space among the foreigners. 

In October this year Japan is also hosting the India film festival Japan which will aim to provide a common platform for cinemas of India and Japan, contributing to the understanding and appreciation of film cultures of both the nations.The idea of the festival is  also to introduce Indian cinema to the Japanese audience and other communities living in Japan. 

In its 100th year one can truly say that Indian cinema and Bollywood especially has come a long way.   

check out my story I had done on this topic in Business Today: 

http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/mami-mumbai-film-festival-global-buyers-eye-indian-film-titles/1/19494.html