That Indian films and India’s biggest showman, Raj Kapoor, particularly, enjoyed a massive fan base in Russia is no secret. Back in the 1970s, every time Kapoor’s films hit theatres in Moscow, the euphoria was unimaginable. His Russian fans would travel long hours and queue up outside auditoriums just to catch a glimpse of the superstar on the silver screen. A lot changed thereafter. The popularity of our Hindi films declined as access to Hollywood entertainment and information became more prevalent.
But seems like the old times will return sooner than we know. At present, the Russian Cultural Ministry has put its focus on bringing Hindi (and Indian cinema) back to its audiences. At the Moscow International Film Week that ran from August 23 to August 28, several film buffs – Russians and NRIs residing in Moscow – flocked in to catch SS Rajamouli’s RRR, Nag Ashwin’s Kalki 2898 AD, and Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies. At the same time, the latest Hindi releases such as Stree 2, Vedaa, and Khel Khel Mein were running in theatres in the Russian capital.
A transition, in fact, is already happening. The past few years saw a handful of Indian productions shooting for their films in Russia. Case in point: Varun Dhawan’s Jugjugg Jeeyo, Nag Chaitanya’s Thank You, Prithviraj Sukumaran’s The Goat Life, R Madhavan’s Rocketry: The Nambi Effect, Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan and Salman Khan’s Tiger 3. And more films are to follow suit. At the film festival week, News18 exclusively caught up with the dignitaries of the Russian cultural industry, who shared their thoughts on how Moscow is on its way to becoming a go-to shoot location for Indian filmmakers and film crews.
Gulnara Agamova, CEO, the Agency of Creative Industries, said, “What we see is that most of our audiences are more familiar with the older Indian movies and not with the new ones. We’re trying to mend that and give more of the latter to Russians right now. In the Moscow Film Week, we’ve screened the biggest blockbuster movies and we’re sure that they will be very popular among Russian audiences.”
Drawing attention to how Kapoor’s films ‘hold a special place’ in the hearts of Russian audiences, Alexei Fursin, Minister of Moscow Government, and Head of the Department of Culture of Moscow, said, “We really strive to take the first step towards the revival of joint film productions and embark on the path of building a new dialogue. 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.”
Unlike the USA and the UK, which were the main sources of foreign content, Indian, Turkish, Argentine, Korean, Indonesian, and Brazil content saw a massive influx in the Russian market – a trend that was also aided through OTT streaming platforms like Netflix and Prime Video, among others. At the federal level, financial support is also being provided to encourage international film festivals in the country. On the other hand, for international productions including Indian, filming on Moscow streets can be highly cost-effective due to the competitive pricing of services.
So, while the per day cost of filming in Los Angeles is 70,000$, London is 50,000$ and Paris is 35,000$, Moscow offers a relief as the charge of shooting there for a day is 15,000$. In a nutshell, filming in the Russian capital is 80% cheaper than shooting in Los Angeles and 50% more than in Budapest. It also allows easy accommodation and meals for a team of 30 crew members and provides equipment and prop rentals. The process of hiring a team of 40 local extras and a local team including camera persons and lighting technicians is also hassle-free.
Shedding light on the ‘comprehensive range of facilities and incentives’ available to Indian filmmakers in Moscow, Fursin pointed out, “These include access to the Moscow Film Commission, which assists with location scouting, obtaining permits and navigating the logistics of filming in the city. We also offer financial incentives, including grants and subsidies to support film production.”
He continued, “Additionally, filmmakers have access to state-of-the-art studios, post-production facilities, and a wide network of local talent. Moscow Film Industry Cluster will further enhance these offerings, providing advanced technology and resources for filmmakers to bring their stories to life.”
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Moscow is steadily becoming a city of cinema with its infrastructure like the Gorky Film Studio and the Moskino Film Park providing a plethora of picturesque locales to shoot at. The cost of filming in the Moskino Film Park for a day stands at ₽10,000 only. Further, for a shoot there, no approvals are needed. Accommodation and food are also available on-site.
Agamova recalled how last November, ‘representatives of the biggest production of India’ visited these two key movie sites of the city and got ‘acquainted with the possibilities that Moscow offers to domestic and foreign film crews’. “We see that Indian filmmakers have a growing interest in what’s going on in Moscow and Moscow has done a systematic job in cooperating with India in filmmaking. Experts from India only had the highest of praise for how well-equipped these locations were and were particularly fascinated with the locations in Moskino Film Park such as City Street and historical sites like the Cathedral Square of Kremlin,” she said.
Fursin is confident that Russia could become ‘a prime shooting destination’ and ‘a lucrative option for Indian filmmakers’. “Moscow and other Russian locales offer a unique and diverse range of settings that can significantly enhance the visual appeal of any film. The city’s rich history, stunning architecture, and varied landscapes provide an array of options for filmmakers looking for distinctive locations,” he explained.
Agamova, in a similar vein, stated that sites rich with historical significance became a favourite for Indian film shoots. “Considering how Moscow looks, it’s suitable for different genres of cinema. Now, we see that Indian comedy, action, and drama films are being shot here. In terms of locations, the historical sites are the most popular. They’re widely used by the filming crews,” she said.
So, what’s next after Pathaan and Tiger 3? “As of now, the Agency of Creative Industries is in talks with one of the biggest Indian cinema production films for it to be shot in Moscow. It would be an adventure feature set in the 1970s. Some portions will be set in India and some in the Soviet Union. We believe that the results of this talk will show this summer,” Agamova told us.
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