It's Less Expensive to Shoot Films Abroad: Prakash Jha

New Delhi Filmmaker Prakash Jha, who although has mostly shot his films in parts of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, says that it less expensive to shoot films abroad as compared to India.

Present at the conference 'Film Tourism - India: The Focal Hub' organised by PHD Chamber here on Friday, Jha said that even the hotels and flight costs and packages turn out to be way cheaper on foreign lands than in India, and is something which should be worked upon.

"It is less expensive to shoot abroad than India. Example an air ticket from Mumbai to Delhi and back is more expensive for us than a ticket from here to any European country and back. The hotel costs... we get much better packages in European countries today. They give you all facilities and most importantly nobody disturbs you when you are shooting there," he said.

"India has amazing possibilities if we make India a filming destination and have all seasons... what we need is the passion with which the people there market their place, we lack that passion. The processes in our country for filmmakers for abroad are difficult, we need film friendly ambience at every level. We need good infrastructure," he added.

The helmer of films like Mrityudand, Gangaajal and Apaharan also revealed that he records the music for his films in the Czech Republic and not India as it is cheaper for him in the central European country.

"I record my music in Prague. They have amazing string orchestras and infact it is amazingly cheaper to record music there than India! My music composer who lives in Prague who mails the score in Prague and then it happens. The music recording costs me more here than there and the quality too there is better," the 64-year-old said.

About the problems that Indian and foreign filmmakers face, Jha and filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar, who too was present at the conference, jointly urged the government to drastically reduce the list of permissions for film shooting currently numbering close to 35 from various governmental agencies as the current regime is highly bureaucratic and de-incentivize the film makers, who chose to go overseas for the purpose as destinations there are shot with little interactions with authorities.

The filmakers were present for sessions themed "Film induced tourism destination-Branding Indian States" and "Contribution of Indian cinema in promoting global film locations and adopting global best practices".

Also present was Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi as the chief guest amongst other panelists including Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar, PHD Chamber President Mahesh Gupta and Ambassadors of Turkey, Poland, Czech Republic and Vietnam.