Kerala film wows stars in UK
Thiruvananthapuram: A three-minute ad film of Kerala Tourism — A moment is waiting, directed by Vodaphone’s ZooZoo fame Prakash Varma — was premiered at the famous Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea of London in the presence of a star-studded audience.
The film won the applause of celebrities ranging from the Chelsea striker Didier Drogba to Kerala superstar Mohanlal and Harry Potter star Bill Nighy.
“Kerala is a dream place,” said Drogba, who was accompanied by his wife Alla. “It’s my area.”
Former England striker Gary Linekar, 400 metres Olympic gold medallist Christine Ohuruogu, Indian-born British businessman-politician Swaraj Paul and Slumdog Millionaire star Dev Patel also applauded the film.
“There is magic in the film and now I feel I have to go back to Kerala to discover it again,” said Mohanlal, who was mobbed by fans and photographers.
Ms Smitha Tharoor, the sister of the MP and writer, Mr Shashi Tharoor, described the film as “brilliant”.
Apart from Mohanlal, one of the biggest draws was British actor Bill Nighy, who plays the role of minister for magic Rufus Scrimgeour in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Adding to the glamour was Jade Jagger, daughter of Rolling Stones lead singer Mick Jagger, who has visited Kerala many times and considers it a very spiritual place.
The state tourism secretary, Dr V. Venu and the tourism director, Mr Shiv Shankar, also attended the premiere of the film, which will hit theatres in India on September 27.
The film, shot over 11 days in locations at Thekkady, Munnar, Thalassery and Kannur, features international model Miriam Ilorah. It will ride piggyback on the Julia Roberts hit Eat, Pray and Love in theatres across the UK.
Britain is the most important overseas market for Kerala as it sends 140,000 visitors to the state annually out of about 600,000 foreign visitors, Kerala tourism secretary, Dr V. Venu, the main force behind the Incredible India campaign, said. Tourism get about `12,000 crores in revenue for the state, he added.
“The film reinforces our placement of tourism in Kerala as an experience to be enjoyed and not just as a destination,” he said.
“Kerala is all surreal, raw and sensuous. I was trying to capture all these elements together,” said Varma, who has got famous Senegalese musician Baaba Maal to sing in the film, which will be launched in India at the Kerala Travel Mart in Kochi on Thursday.
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