Development of the film industry is one of the priorities for Georgia. In order to attract investments in this field, the Georgian National Investment Agency has started cooperation with the leading producing companies in a number of countries and India is on top of the list
Negotiations, which lasted for 9 months have successfully come to an end. On November 17 “Bollywood” started shooting second part of the famous blockbuster in Tbilisi, Borjomi and Rustavi. Thirty-six-member group of “Bollywood” producers arrived in Georgia to start filming. “Billa-2” is the first Indian movie to be filmed in Georgia. Before starting filming “Bollywood” producers arrived to Georgia for several times and made a detailed market research in terms of film industry analisys. The support from the Georgian Government has been one of the decisive factors for choosing Georgia.
Mr. Roop Naik film Producer: “We were considering many countries to film “Billa-2”. At that time we were invited to visit Georgia by the Georgian National Investment Agency. In September we visited Georgia and were given all help in identifying locations and also in sourcing equipments, casting agency etc. We were happy with all the help and encouragement given and therefore decided to come here to film. Our budget for the shooting of “Billa-2” in Georgia is around half million dollars. We will be filming in Georgia till the 10th of December.
The movie is slated for an April 2012 release in India.”The leading male role in “Billa 2” is performed by Ajith Kumar, a famous Indian actor. Kumar has won three Filmfare Best Actor Awards in Tamil, all for films which showcased him in multiple roles. Ajith performs predominantly in leading roles in major studio films, genres ranging from romantic comedies and drama to action thrillers.
“It is very important for me that the experience of shooting this film in Georgia is a pleasant one, which so far it very much is” says producer. Back in India the producer of the film Billa is very much awaited after his return from shooting in Georgia. Most of the producers directors & choreographers in Bollywood are awaiting the outcome of this shoot as for Bollywood Georgia is the perfect location in perspective of scenic beauty & infrastructure.” adds Mr. Naik.
Mr. Naik has also shared with Georgia Business Week information on the future plans noting the following: “The fact that we have come here has already created an interest in Georgia from a lot of other film producers in India. And yes if we have another subject that needs a foreign location we will definitely consider coming to Georgia again. We already plan to shoot the Hindi film here in Georgia and will commence filming in March 2012. This film will be shot in all parts of Georgia for 60 days. We have also favorably suggested Georgia to two other producers and they will be visiting Georgia soon to scout for locations. “Billa-2” will have a big release in India and will showcase the beauty of Georgia to people in India. This will open Georgia out to Indians as a tourist destination too. The “Bollywood” industry too will look forward to come to Georgia.
Film Industry for producers naturally is first business and then art. “Bollywood” as well as “Hollywood” is oriented toward finding a cheap venue for shooting. That is why “Hollywood” started shootings in Europe, and “Bollywood” puts an accent on the markets of Georgia and New Zealand.
Archil Menagharishvili - Member of the Board Directors, Georgian Film: “Georgia is attractive for “Bollywood” with the variety of landscapes and different climate zones within a short distance. Among our advantages are technical base, qualified personnel and preferential conditions for filming.
It has been several weeks since “Bollywood” started filming in Georgia. Their appearance in the country has revitalized many spheres. Likani and adjacent hotels are all packed. Numerous companies are involved in the shooting process, including studio “Metro”, which provides the equipment for the shootings. Government bodies like Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia, Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs of Georgia, Georgian Parliament, Tbilisi City Hall, have been highly supportive when being addressed with concrete requests by “Bollywood” producers.
Koba Davarashvili, the founder of studio “Metro”: “Bollywood” and Studio “Metro” signed the contract in August. Bringing in “Bollywood” to the Georgian market has been my dream for a long time. Metro Studio coordinated both casting process and production. We provided them with the technical equipment that they needed for the shootings. I believe that cooperation with “Bollywood” will give serious professional experience to the entire Georgian team, which is involved in shootings. I mean camera operators, electricians who move the instruments to eluminate the scene, painters, scriptwriters. They have not worked with such a schedule yet. Sometimes the shootings end at 4 am and continue at 7 am . In Georgia “Bollywood” films only one movie for now and they have already spent the budget of nearly half a million dollars. This is approximately the budget of three Georgian movies. Imagine, we had to rent the equiptment from all studios in order to provide all the equipement for the shootings. 60 Georgian actors are involved in the filming process. The filming has reinvigorated the related workforce, such are food service personnel, costume designers, visagists etc. I believe that a small country like Georgia should become the venue for filming.”
Georgian Bussines Week learned that Bravo Record will provide the media coverage of the Indian blockbuster Bila-2 in Georgia. It is possible that one of the major soundtracks for the movie is recorded by a famous Georgian singer.
Zaza Shengelia-the founder of Bravo Records: Possibly the sound track of the movie will be provided by our company. The representatives of “Bollywood” came to our studio and were surprised with the equipments that they found. Our Record Studio can provide the audio service in Dolby 5.1 format. Just like “Hollywood” started movie production in Europe, “Bollywood” started searching for cheap market for movie production. Georgia can offer preferential conditions and this chance should be used. The Georgian National Investment Agency saw this perspective and showed it to Georgia. The entrance of “Bollywood” into the Georgian market creates serious financial and professional stimulus for the development of the Georgian movie industry. Gained experience and financial resources will assist with the development of the good quality movie production in Georgia.”
According to the experts, Cooperation with “Bollywood” and with various leading producers from foreign countries, like for instance Vaclav Marhoul a leading Czech producer will assist Georgia with the development of the Georgian film industry. Entrance of international film production and distribution companies helps to popularize the country and to develop tourism in Georgia. Moreover, the above process encourages the development of the number of spheres, which are associated with high quality film production.
