The Government of India set in motion fresh initiatives to establish itself as an international shooting destination in the same league as well-established location sectors in Eastern Europe or Latin America.
Authorities in 2016 established the Film Facilitation Office (FFO) with the aim “to streamline approvals for both foreign and local productions with a single window clearance system,” according to the FFO’s head Vikramjit Roy. The FFO then became a member of the Association of Film Commissioners International, whose members include more than 300 commissions from 40 countries. “We have had interactions with leading global studios and producers to assess what is it that they require us to do to make India more film-friendly,” says Roy. Responding to these demands, India launched the F visa, or film visa, in 2015, specifically meant for foreign cast and crew.
India has yet to announce tax rebates and other incentives for foreign productions filming in the country — a policy reportedly is in the final stages — Roy’s current goal is to make the world aware of the versatility of Indian locales. “Every genre has a location in India, whether it’s adventure, romance, period epic, thriller, musical or action,” he says. “You can come with a vision and leave with a movie.”
Eight Indian locations that offer a range of options for international shoots:
Pondicherry, a former French colonial settlement on India’s western coastline, is known for its beaches, backwaters, lakes, tree-lined streets and quaint villas. Tabrez Noorani, local line producer on Life of Pi, which made use of multiple locations in the city, says, “The people embraced us all. Everyone bent over backward, including the local government, and this made the shooting procedure much easier and a lot of fun.”
Rajasthan, India’s celebrated tourism hub known for its historic palaces, lakes and desert landscapes. Mumbai, the main production hub for Bollywood, “brings together the best of talent, access to the latest equipment and technology and the ease of filming across the city,” says Pravesh Sahni, co-founder of leading line production company India Take One. Goa, famous for its beaches, is India’s top holiday destination. Delhi, India’s capital city, is famous for its architectural heritage, reflecting its Mughal history and its British colonial legacy. Chandigarh features lush greenery and wide boulevards and is a popular filming location for regional Punjabi-language films and music videos. Kolkata was once the capital of India during British colonial rule, and is home to the thriving Bengali film industry. Kerala is well known for its beaches, wildlife sanctuaries, scenic hamlets and, most of all, its breathtaking backwaters, a chain of lagoons and lakes lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coastline.
