Indian cinema makes huge gain in Russia after the exit of Hollywood Studios
Discover how Indian cinema is captivating Russian audiences, filling the void left by Hollywood¡¯s exit, and forging new cultural and creative partnerships at international forums. From blockbuster hits like RRR and Pathaan to AI-driven filmmaking advancements, explore the rising influence of Bollywood in Russia!
With Hollywood giants like Disney, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros., and Paramount exiting Russia in 2022, Moscow¡¯s movie scene took a sharp turn. The absence of these studios left Russian cinemas scrambling to fill a 70% revenue gap once dominated by Hollywood. The spotlight quickly shifted to cinematic imports from other countries, notably India, Turkey, and South Korea.
Indian cinema emerged as a top choice, resonating with Russian audiences with its relatable stories and values.
Indian films win hearts in Russia
Karen Mirzoyan, director of Indian Films¡ªthe company bringing Bollywood hits to Russia ¡ª explains, ¡°Indian cinema resonates with Russian viewers because it shares similar cultural values.¡±
This rekindled a long-standing bond between Russian and Indian cinema, harking back to Soviet-era popularity when films like ¡°Disco Dancer¡± and ¡°Seeta Aur Geeta¡± became popular. Moreover, Raj Kapoor's ¡°Awaara¡± emerged as one of the highest grossing movies of all time in the USSR with over 65 million tickets being sold in the initial run.
Indian Films Win Hearts In Russia
The exit of Hollywood studios from Russia in 2022 led to an increased demand for foreign content in the country. And, Indian films benefited from this trend in a big way.
Bollywood bounces back as Hollywood bows out
¡°RRR¡± was a standout release in this regard. SS Rajamouli¡¯s period action drama succeeded in cinemas and also captivated countless viewers on Russian television.
Another milestone was achieved in 2023 with the release of ¡°Pathaan¡±. The spy-thriller secured the highest-ever opening of an Indian film dubbed in Russian and went on to impress the audience.
Additionally, Pushpa broke the language barrier to set the box office on fire. Its Russian-dubbed version collected 10 M Rubles in 25 days and emerged as a rage in the country.
The 2024 Indian Film Festival in Russia further highlighted Indian cinema¡¯s growing influence. Held across six cities¡ªMoscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Ufa, Saratov, and Chelyabinsk¡ªthe festival¡¯s lineup included fan-favorites like ¡°Kal Ho Naa Ho¡± by Nikhil Advani, ¡°Brahmastra Part 1: Shiva¡±, ¡°PK¡±, ¡°Three Idiots¡± and ¡°Lunchbox¡±.
This trend could gain even greater momentum as Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed plans to expand Indian cinema¡¯s presence in Russia during the BRICS Summit in Kazan this October.
¡°Culture. Media. Digital.¡± forum in Moscow attracts Indian industry players
The Indian film industry made a strong showing at Moscow¡¯s first international ¡°Culture. Media. Digital¡± forum held on November 13 and November14. The event featureda powerhouse lineup, including American director and three-time Oscar winner Oliver Stone, French director Luc Besson, and Serbian filmmaker Emir Kusturica among others.
Indian Cinema gains ground in Russia
Moscow is positioning itself as a BRICS creative economy hub with the aim of attracting talent from around the globe.
Moscow Vice Mayor Natalia Sergunina revealed ambitious plans for the city¡¯s newly built Moskino film cluster, a massive studio complex equipped with advanced facilities that cater to large-scale filming needs. She said the Moskino cluster can support over 20 projects simultaneously, making it a magnet for international filmmakers looking for top-tier production options.
In 2024, Moskino welcomed its first foreign production¡ªIndian director Venkat Prabhu¡¯s ¡°GOAT¡±, marking a new chapter for Moscow¡¯s growing creative industry.
¡°We envision Moscow as the future hub for BRICS creative industries. We¡¯re committed to providing world-class resources for filmmakers, game developers, and digital artists,¡± Sergunina stated.
She added filmmakers from the UAE, China, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia are now considering Moscow as a key destination for upcoming projects.
At the forum, Sanath Pillery, CEO and co-founder of Firefly Creative Studio, emphasised how AI technology could revolutionise the film industry. ¡°Previously, we shot a film once a year or a year and a half; now we¡¯re simultaneously working on six films in the pre-production stage,¡± he shared. Nishit Raghuram from Red Chillies added, ¡°Our company shifted part of the artists' processes to AI, automating routine tasks so they could focus on what matters most. AI can significantly enhance storytelling."
Charapalle Rao from Annapurna Studios noted, ¡°As for employees whose work may be taken over by AI, if a person is not ready to grow and improve their skills, they will be replaced!¡±
