Gone are the days when Indian films were only limited to audience from a certain region within the country. The rise of Pan India movies with Hindi movies doing well in the South markets and vice versa, have helped more and more filmmakers to take their films outside India as well. Indian films have been transcending boundaries since decades and are popular in places far and wide and the audience is only growing by the day. One such market which has always welcomed content from India is Russia.
For the unversed, it was Raj Kapoor who truly became a rage in Russia with his film Awara (1951), we learnt that the song Awara is still performed at cultural dos and music clubs all around Russia by their local artists. There was a time when a visit from Raj Kapoor ensured a tsunami of fans on the Russian streets who braved the crowd just to get a glimpse of their favourite Indian star. The magic of the era fizzled out over the years. But not anymore as India and Moscow join forces to revive the magic of Indian films. Speaking exclusively to BollywoodLife on the side lines of Moscow Film Week, the head of the Department of Culture of the City of Moscow, Alexei Fursin, spoke about Moscow and India's efforts to recreate the magic between India and Russia a la Raj Kapoor's era.
Fursin said, "The association between Indian cinema and Russia is indeed storied, with Raj Kapoor's films holding a special place in the hearts of Russian audiences. His work resonated deeply, symbolizing the cultural and emotional connection between our nations." Discussing Russian-Indian cooperation within the framework of the business program, Fursin shared, "We really strive to take the first step towards the revival of joint film production and embark on the path of building a new dialogue." He also revealed that the Moscow Department of Culture actively supports the development of cultural exchange between Russia and India, including in cinematography. "We strive to provide viewers with the opportunity to get acquainted with various genres and styles of cinema in both countries," he said. The program of the Moscow International Film Week included Indian films like Kiran Rao's Laapataa Ladies, Prabhas and Deepika Padukone's Kalki 2898 AD, and SS Rajamouli's RRR amongst others.
At the same time. there are also steps being taken to promote Russian cinema in India. Fursin said, "Russian films are being promoted in India through various channels, including film festivals, cultural events, and special screenings. These events provide Indian audiences with an opportunity to experience the diversity and richness of Russian cinema." He also shared that there was also exploration of more commercial avenues to distribute Russian films in India, such as partnerships with local distributors and streaming platforms. "By making Russian films more accessible to Indian audiences, we hope to increase their visibility and appreciation, ultimately leading to stronger cultural ties between our countries," Fursin said. He also admitted that the old generation knows of Raj Kapoor and his cinema however, the new generation was not as aware.
It is the visual appeal, unique concepts and emotional connect that have helped Indian films resonate with a variety of audiences and with these new efforts between India and Russia, we are sure that the frenzy that was once attached to Raj Kapoor and his films, will soon be a part of other Indian stars and movies as well.
