Filmmaker
Pan Nalin
, director of the Oscar shortlisted Gujarati film
Chhello Show
(Last Film Show) which was co-produced with France, recently met French President
Emmanuel Macron
, who was in India as the chief guest at this year’s Republic Day celebrations. Talking about it, Pan shares, “I was invited to meet President Macron at the residence of the French Ambassador and while I expected a very brief interaction, I was pleasantly surprised when I got to speak to him at length.”
‘President Macron told me that he will watch Chhello Show soon’
Pan, who has made six features and nine documentaries in
co-productions
with France and has two upcoming feature films which will be co-produced with France, shares, “We spoke about Indian cinema and also discussed the possibility of bigger India-France co-productions.
I told him how the French Consulate in Mumbai was extremely supportive and helped us in our Oscar campaign in India, Los Angeles and Paris. President Macron told me that he will watch Chhello Show soon. Emmanuel Macron came across as humble and he listened keenly when I told him how we make films in so many languages. He told me that he really enjoyed his India trip.”
He adds, “Our I&B Ministry and the NFDC (National Film Development Corporation of India) have recently announced some exciting incentives to attract such co-productions from France. France already has great incentives in place to attract film productions from India. Both the film industries are keen to exploit existing film production treaties and I believe that France and Europe can become one of the biggest markets for such co-productions. Our popular cinema is limited to India and Indian diaspora, it doesn’t really go beyond that. So, it’s not really a crossover in the true sense. With both the governments showing strong intent now, I believe that the two countries can collaborate better. Bigger India-France co-productions can certainly dominate the entertainment industry, as these will be commercially viable in international markets.”
He adds, “Right since Samsara, I have enjoyed co-productions with European countries. It’s always a delight to co-produce films with France because their post-production work is among the best in the world. Also, their technicians are more aware about world cinema. While many US technicians still feel Indian cinema is only about song and dance and over-the-top acting, French technicians are aware about works of
Satyajit Ray
,
Guru Dutt
and other eminent filmmakers.”
English (US) ·