By NRI Nation News Desk
Indian cinema workshop opened in Colombo on April 28 with Arundika Fernando, State Minister of Urban Development and Housing, Vinod K Jacob, Deputy High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka, and Nagathihalli Chandrashekaran, a prominent film director, actor, screenwriter, and lyricist from Kannada cinema leading the delegation.
During the inauguration, the Deputy High Commissioner highlighted the importance of the workshop in strengthening the people-to-people ties between India and Sri Lanka, especially during their 75th year of diplomatic relations. He also noted six key observations regarding Indian cinema, such as that more than 2000 films are made in India annually and that the history of Indian cinema dates back over 100 years.
The Deputy High Commissioner also discussed the impact of COVID-19 on the Indian cinema industry, pointing out trends such as the shrinking of Hindi theatergoing audiences by 21.5%, compared to pre-pandemic levels, and the stability or growth of most South Indian languages, with Kannada experiencing the most growth at 25%.
Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of commercial success and creative content in Indian cinema, as well as the contribution of Kannada cinema to Indian society. He also mentioned the ecosystem that enables Indian cinema, which is based on freedom of speech and expression, and the support that the Indian government and people have given to Sri Lanka through their 'Neighborhood First policy.
Overall, the workshop on Indian cinema aims to educate participants about the versatility and contributions of Kannada cinema, as well as deepen the cultural ties between India and Sri Lanka.