Sri Lanka shines at 'FICCI Frames'

In an effort to promote Sri Lanka as a location for the Indian film industry, the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau with SriLankan Airlines ensured Sri Lanka's active participation through Asian Film Location Services (Pvt) Ltd and Travel Masters at 'FICCI Frames' held in Mumbai last week.

'FICCI Frames' organized by the Indian Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries, draws the industry's domestic and global leaders from around

the globe covering the entire gamut of media and entertainment like films, broadcast (TV and Radio), digital entertainment, animation, gaming, visual effects, etc. over a period of three days.

Visitors to Frames include professionals related to television and broadcasting, cinema, animation, gaming, special effects, mobile entertainment, digital entertainment, broadband and convergence, radio, media marketing, live events and shows, networking opportunities are the target visitors. The Maharashtra Chief Minister, Ashok Chavan, inaugurated the event and was also addressed by Shah Rukh Khan. Over 1500 Indian and 500 foreign delegates and leading Indian film-makers attended the event.

"This was a great opportunity for Sri Lanka after we, together with SriLankan Airlines hosted N. Ramji of Travel Master's, a leading location provider for Indian film Industry to witness various locations in Sri Lanka, ideal for Indian movies, said Convention Bureau General Manager, Vipula Wanigasekera which functions under the Tourism Ministry.

'FICCI Frames' was an ideal platform to meet most of the leading film-makers such as Yash Chopra, and Irrfan Khan, who were given a thorough brief on how Sri Lanka could benefit the Indian film industry considering the cost effectiveness, the accessibility and the profile of the country, he said.

Sri Lanka will soon be a popular location for Indian movies following these attempts particularly when the message is communicated effectively about the movies already filmed in Sri Lanka such as Water, Indiana Jones, Mother Teresa and Jungle Book including Ram Gopal Varma's crime thriller 'Agyaat' in which a major part of the movie was filmed in the Sigiriya forests in Sri Lanka.

Famous film-makers Mukesh and Mahesh Bhatt have already indicated their willingness to consider Sri Lanka and are planning to visit Sri Lanka soon. Their niece, one time popular actress, now producer Puja Bhatt is already in Sri Lanka.

These promotions are in line with the Government's vision to develop this sector for which one testament is the first ever Tele-Cinema Village, Serendib Studio, at Ranminitenna on a 235 acre land with state-of-the-art facilities for cinema and tele film-makers built with a total estimated cost of Rs 500 million rupees.