Sri Lanka is a country with a very long culture, attractive sceneries, and historical affiliations with other nations in the region. Among these connections one can identify a unique symbiosis of Sri Lanka. Indian cinema, especially Bollywood, as cultural logic and cinematographic narration. An island nation in the Indian Ocean Sri Lanka has not only provided the beautiful locales for shooting Bollywood Films. But has also contributed to the storylines, motifs, and actors that comprise Bollywood.
The Alluring Landscape: Sri Lanka as a Filming Location
Nevertheless, one of the most blatant impacts of Sri Lanka on Bollywood Films is the feature location filming services it offers. The picturesque locales of the country ranging from green tea gardens to tropical beaches. And historical shrines have offered the backdrop for many Bollywood movies. The shooting location has great potential. Sri Lanka offers all kinds of terrains that can suit any scene needed for the film’s plot. From exotic beaches to ancient ruins to a secluded village.
For example, the Bollywood movie ‘Chennai Express’ released in 2013. Starring SRK and Deepika, filmed different episodes in Sri Lanka. The filmmakers chose the island’s locations to depict the skyline of the South Indian countryside. For enhanced color and a realistic portrayal of the movie. Like “Kites” (2010) with Hrithik Roshan, Sri Lankan locations became as eye-catching as the protagonists. Added romantic appeal to the shooting area.
Cultural and Historical Ties
Bollywood films have also borrowed cultural and historical relationship existing between the Sri Lanka and India. Sri Lanka, where unique stories of ancient kingdoms and myths as well as the Buddhist culture are interesting to the Bollywood Films , Bollywood directors and screenwriters are located. These narratives which make common use of religious or mythical elements and of metaphysical reflections are closely concerned with the questions of good and evil, of individual and collective identity.
One of the best-known examples can be the film “Asoka” directed by Santosh Sivan in 2001 and starring Shah Rukh Khan. The movie is a historical genre that traces the life and reign of one of India’s legendary kings; Ashoka the Great. Although the film mainly revolves around Ashoka’s life in India, it also shows the part where Ashoka invaded Kalinga, which is said to include present-day Sri Lanka. The movie focuses on how Ashoka changes from being a fierce warrior to a kind emperor guided by Buddhism, which has a rich history in Sri Lanka.
Cross-Border Talent Exchange
It is not only the landscapes and the themes. Which have made Sri Lanka Bollywood’s neighbour but also the flow of talent between the two nations. In recent decades, numerous actors, singers and technicians from Sri Lanka have established themselves in the Indian movie industry. Thereby adding color to the Bollywood.Another Sri Lankan talent who is already famous in India is Jacqueline Fernandez. The beauty queen and Miss Sri Lanka now turned Bollywood actress. She made her debut in Bollywood with the movies such as
- Aladin
- Roy
- Murder2
- kick
- Brothers
In addition to actors, Bollywood has also explored the talent of Sri Lankan musicians. Therefore, one can postulate that this island’s musical heritage. With its roots and aspirations in Indian classical and more contemporary western music. Has successfully interwoven itself into the soundscape of Bollywood. For instance, music duo, Bathiya and Santhush, favorites for Sri Lankan music lovers, have worked for the Bollywood music industry to add variation to the soundtracks.
This paper focuses on the effect of the Indian movie industry – Bollywood on the Sri Lankan cinema.
As stated before, Sri Lanka has been responsible for affecting Bollywood in a number of ways. The same goes for Bollywood too. By the increase in the presence and popularity of Bollywood movies in Sri Lanka. It has affected the Sri Lankan film industry in one way or another. Since the Golden Age of Hindi cinema, Indian films particularly from Bombay have entertained. And enthralled Sri Lankans with larger-than-life stories, music, and dancing, and passion dramatic. This influence has been quite apparent right from the themes, styles and the modes of production of most Sri Lankan films which mimic Bollywood.
Conclusion
It is for this reason that Bollywood reflects interaction with Sri Lanka. Which is evidence of the friendly relations that these two countries share. Even in terms of landscape, overall story and cultural inter-connection, sharing of talents and ideas apart. Sri Lanka has always had a pivotal role in the making of Bollywood cinema. This along with the increasing interaction between the two countries will only strengthen the ties between Sri Lanka and Bollywood. Thus bring richness to the South Asian cinema, which will only increase in the coming years.
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