Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
Bollywood

Bollywood Continues To Serenade Chinese Audience

Darpan News Desk IANS, 13 Jul, 2015 11:41 AM
  • Bollywood Continues To Serenade Chinese Audience
Aamir Khan-starrer "PK" is set to become the highest income-earning Indian movie in China where Bollywood films are gaining in popularity and its songs can be heard even in ringtones.
 
Following its release across 4,500 screens in China on May 22, "PK" made more than 120 million yuan (around $20 million) -- and it remains a hit.
 
"It's all set to become the highest income-earning Indian movie in the Chinese box office history," a Chinese trade analyst told IANS.
 
Jimy Wangtso, director-general of the government information office of the Tibet Autonomous Region, said the craze for Indian movies dated back to the days of the classic "Awara".
 
"Awara" (The Tramp), a 1951 Hindi film, was a runaway hit in China -- and in Russia too.
 
"I still love to see this movie and to tap on its title song," said Jimy.
 
The Chinese movie market is sized at $4.8 billion, second only to the US, and grew 34 percent in 2014. China produced over 600 films in 2014.
 
"Like '3 Idiots', 'PK' did a roaring business in China," Indian journalist Atul Aneja, who is based here, told IANS. The Chinese, he said, have special love for Indian movies, soaps and songs.
 
Hindi songs have invaded China too. Transcending languate barriers, they make their presence felt in mobile ringtones and at functions.
 
When this IANS correspondent visited the Beijing Experimental School in Lhasa, a big screen at the entrance showcased students swaying to the "Chaiyya chaiyyaa" lyrics from Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Hindi film "Dil Se..".
 
Government officials in Lhasa say that Indian films, dubbed in Mandarin, get released simultaneously in the city with the mainland.
 
Tibet, which abounds in virgin nature as well as historical and cultural sites, has four cinemas, with tickets ranging from 40 to 60 yuan for a show. Every Tuesday, the cinemas offer 50 percent discount on tickets.
 
Tourist guide Wangmu, accompanying the visiting Indian journalists in Lhasa, started singing "Hum tere bin ab reh nahi sakte" from "Aashiqui 2".
 
Even though she didn't know Hindi, she understands the lyrics of the song.
 
Another Indian living here said that war movies and family operas were a hit on Chinese television.
 
He added: "The youth here is as stressed as in India. The parents want their children to see family sagas."
 
Indian movie buff Zou Yuheng in Beijing said he had seen several Hindi movies with English and Chinese subtitles on the internet.
 
Youku.com and tudou.com are best video websites, while iQIYI.com is the best for mobile video service providers in China.
 
 
On July 3, iQIYI released the full series of its self-produced TV show "The Lost Tomb" to paid subscribers.
 
In order to watch the full series, a huge number of users downloaded the iQIYI app and purchased the subscription service, with the number of user clicks on "The Lost Tomb" episodes surpassing 160 million within five minutes following the release, says the company.
 
PricewaterhouseCoopers study "India Entertainment and Media Outlook 2014" says the global cinema business is resilient.
 
The boom in film production and cinema going in China (now the largest market for film after the US), Russia, India and Brazil will ensure that this spike continues.
 
A Xinhua report quoting Wang Fenglin, vice president of the Chinese Film Producers Association, said home-made films accounted for 51.4 percent of the market. The rest were imported.
 
He said the Chinese film market would overtake the US to become the largest in the world within three years as the numbers of screens and revenues are growing by 30 percent annually.
 
A joint statement between India and China during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China on May 15 emphasized the need to increase services trade in films.
 
Eros International, a company in the Indian film entertainment industry, then announced one of its first projects to co-produce with Chinese Film Corp the film "Tang Xuan Zang", starring China's most popular actor Huang Xiaoming.

MORE Bollywood ARTICLES

13 Years Of 'Devdas': SRK Thanks Team, Makes Dubsmash Video. Watch!

13 Years Of 'Devdas': SRK Thanks Team, Makes Dubsmash Video. Watch!
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan thanked his entire "Devdas" team and made a special Dubsmash video as the film logged 13 years since its release.

13 Years Of 'Devdas': SRK Thanks Team, Makes Dubsmash Video. Watch!

Salman Hasn't Seen 'Fan' Teaser, But Knows It's 'Superb'

Salman Hasn't Seen 'Fan' Teaser, But Knows It's 'Superb'
Shah Rukh Khan was among the first to 'tweet' support to Salman Khan's "Bajrangi Bhaijaan", but the "Dabangg" actor is yet to see the teaser of Shah Rukh's new movie "Fan". Nevertheless, he is sure it's "superb".

Salman Hasn't Seen 'Fan' Teaser, But Knows It's 'Superb'

Didn't Make 'ABCD 2' For Money, Says Remo

"ABCD 2", starring Varun Dhawan, Shraddha Kapoor and Prabhudheva, crossed the Rs.100 crore mark at the Bollywood box office last week. 

Didn't Make 'ABCD 2' For Money, Says Remo

Watch: Amitabh Bachchan Sings 'Le Panga' For 2015 Pro Kabaddi League

Watch: Amitabh Bachchan Sings 'Le Panga' For 2015 Pro Kabaddi League
Amitabh Bachchan has gone behind the mike for a promotional song for Pro Kabaddi League (PKL). The megastar has lent his voice to a song titled “Le panga”, which has been released in four versions.

Watch: Amitabh Bachchan Sings 'Le Panga' For 2015 Pro Kabaddi League

Why Marathi Film 'Janiva' Left Salman Khan Worried?

Superstar Salman Khan, who is usually unfazed by anything that comes against him, revealed that when he got to know Marathi film "Janiva" was slated to release on the same date as his "Bajrangi Bhaijaan", he became worried.

Why Marathi Film 'Janiva' Left Salman Khan Worried?

Bollywood Producers' Cheques Also Bounce: Richa Chadha

Bollywood Producers' Cheques Also Bounce: Richa Chadha
Actress Richa Chadha says cheques handed out by film producers also bounce, but it doesn't matter to her as she "doesn't do films for money".

Bollywood Producers' Cheques Also Bounce: Richa Chadha