Excelsior Correspondent
PORT LOUIS, Apr 17: The Cultural Diplomat of India to Mauritius, Balwant Thakur has initiated various modes of promoting Indian cinema particularly Bollywood in Mauritius in a big way.
Recently he released a book ‘Bollywood and its global impact’, started a monthly cine series, talk shows, Indian Film Festivals and now facilitating Indian film making in Mauritius.
In a joint collaboration with Mauritius Film Development Corporation (MFDC), Thakur has already envisaged various projects of mutual thrust largely aimed at promoting Indian cinema in Mauritius.
A film unit from Bollywood including Kartik Aryan, Kirti Sanon and Paresh Rawal is already in Mauritius to shoot action packed musical film ‘Shehzaada’.
In a meeting with the unit members, Thakur assured all help in coordination with MFDC which facilitates the shootings of foreign films in Mauritius in addition to the development of local film industry.
Indira Gandhi Centre for Indian Culture (IGCIC) which is world’s biggest cultural centre headed by Thakur as its director holds many promotional events aimed at projecting Indian cinema in Mauritius.
Various exclusive festivals including Raj Kapoor Film Festival, Dilip Kumar Film Festival, Amitabh Bachhan Film Festival have already been held here.
IGCIC has planned to hold a festival of Indian films shot in Mauritius.
The nodal body MFDC is mandated to promote film making in Mauritius and it also provides subsidy to film makers who produce films here using their locations, equipments and other facilities. Such initiatives attract lot of outside film producers to shoot their films in peaceful Mauritius thus inspiring local aspirants to venture their own endeavors.
Balwant Thakur said that in his endeavor to promote India and Indian art and culture in Mauritius, he will continue to strive for altogether new innovative ways to accomplish his responsibilities.