Bangkok hottest shooting hub among filmmakers

[Sawatdee]

Bangkok hottest shooting hub among filmmakers
(Friday, Jan 20, 2006 - 06:00 am)
Televisionpoint.com Team

Bangkok seems to be the hottest shooting hub among Indian filmmakers. The three recent releases Ek Ajnabee, Zinda and Family were shot in the Thai city. However, the first film to be entirely shot in Bangkok was Anuraag Basu's Murder.

Anuraag Basu says, "Had I to shoot Murder in the US or UK then the cost would have shot up to double the amount." Basu has however chosen to shoot Gangster in Europe. "Ever since I shot Murder in Bangkok, Bollyood filmmakers have started doing the same. So, I opted for another country."

Director Apurva Lakhia who shot Ek Ajnabee entirely in Bangkok says, "The air tickets work out to be cheaper. The business class airfare amounts to a total of Rs 40,000. The air fare for each person of my unit would cost me anything between Rs 2 to 4 lakhs per person, if I choose to shoot in Europe of Australia."

Director Sanjay Gupta points out, "The advantage of shooting in Bangkok is that, the city has its own production houses. Compared to India, there are very few films made in Bangkok. So most of the time, equipment used for filmmaking is easily available, that too at a very nominal rate. In Bangkok the cost for shooting is $1000 a week."

Gupta says that the script of Zinda demanded an Oriental location. "I had to choose between Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok. I chose Bangkok because it worked out to be much cheaper for me."

Producer Ashok Thakeria, who shot a major schedule of his forthcoming flick Pyare Mohan in Bangkok said that a lot of travelling time was saved when I was shooting there. "While shooting with Fardeen Khan and Esha Deol, I remember how keen they were to attend the premiere of Shaadi No. 1. They took a flight from Bangkok to Mumbai that took them only three hours travel time to attend the premiere. The next morning they were back in Bangkok to shoot for my film."

He adds that shooting in a foreign location also helps cut down on unit members since the film's budget has to be kept in mind. The rest of the people can be hired from Bangkok. Also, a return ticket to Delhi costs me Rs 12,000." A major portion of the recently released film Family has also been shot in Bangkok.

Producer Keshu Ramsay explains, "The rules and laws over there aren't rigid. If I was shooting in the US or Australia, I would not be allowed to shoot beyond eight hours. They are very strict about working hours. But in Bangkok I would be allowed to shoot beyond the time limit, just like Mumbai."

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh has the last word, "Bangkok gives the feel of New York at the cost of Indian rupee. Why would anybody ask for more?"