Ruchira explores how iconic Bollywood foreign locations mesmerised audiences and boosted global tourism in this engaging piece on DifferentTruths.com.

Remember the Bollywood blockbusters of the 1960s, viz., Sangam (Raj Kapoor-Vyjayanthi Mala-Rajendrakumar’s love triangle), dated 1964, and An Evening in Paris (1967). Its iconic scene is a bathrobe-clad Shammi Kapoor dangling precariously from a whirring (overhead) chopper cable in a bid to woo his love interest, a bikini-clad Sharmila Tagore, who is engaged in a watersport with her cronies.

Honestly, their content was mediocre: typical romantic stories with a mix of jealousy, conspiracy, violence, and blah blah. Why did such films become major crowd pullers? For the simple reason that they were mostly shot in exotic foreign locales beyond the shores of our native land – Switzerland, France, the United Kingdom, Lebanon, Canada, the US and Germany…you name it, they showed it. The general public (read: masses) got mesmerised. Not surprising, since during those decades very few Indians travelled abroad, except the Bold & Beautiful, the Affluent, and the powerful.

Movies such as these opened up new vistas before their eyes. Thus, pacifying their inner longing to see the wide, wonderful world. Around the same time, 1966 avid cinegoers went gaga over Love in Tokyo 1966 (with Joy Mukherjee and Asha Parekh in lead roles). The film was shot in several picturesque locales in and around Tokyo, packed with verdant, landscaped parks and gardens with flowering trees in full bloom.

Patriotic enthusiasts cannot overlook the overly nationalistic film Purab aur Pacchhim (1971), starring Manoj Kumar and Saira Bano, which was set in England.

Since then, much water has flowed down the Ganges (or Yamuna, if you please). However, directors and producers in Bollywood have enthusiastically embraced this trend.

During the 1970s and 1980s, the Rajesh Khanna starrer Aashiq Hoon Baharon Ka captivated viewers with numerous scenes set in Switzerland. So did Souten, with its narrative set in the picturesque Mauritius. Alongside the immensely popular film Hare Rama Hare Krishna, it chose our friendly neighbouring country, Nepal, for its outdoor shooting.

Speaking of foreign locations, the Bachchan starrer The Great Gambler (1979) brought Italy, particularly Venice, to the doorstep of the people. Ditto for DDLJ (Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge), which was released in 1995. It was the Continent in a nutshell for the viewers. Incidentally, it bore a subtle likeness to Dev Anand’s Prem Pujari (1970).

The economic liberalisation that happened in 1991 was a boon for Mumbai’s B-Town, with more money flowing in and restrictions minimised; producers began churning out flicks with higher budgets; shooting abroad also became more commonplace than ever before

As we entered a new millennium, the trend continued visibly in Karan Johar’s films (Big B, SRK, Preity Zinta, Kajol, and Rani were conspicuous), namely Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (mainly in the UK), Kal Ho Na Ho (US and Canada), and Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna (US and Kuala Lumpur). Rakesh Roshan’s Kaho Na Pyar Hai got us the creme of Asia and Oceania, e.g., Thailand and New Zealand.

Let me digress a bit: Indo-British director Gurinder Chadha’s films Bend It Like Beckham and Bhaji on the Beach explored various locations across the United Kingdom, where Chadha resides permanently. Her focus is on the Punjabi-Sikh diaspora in Britain.

While regaling ourselves with the aforementioned flicks, do we ever ponder how members of the crew and technicians of all spheres must be virtually on a roll, travelling on an all-expenses-paid work-cum-pleasure trip to popular destinations abroad? But yes, one must admit there is tremendous hard work involved, coupled with irregular work schedules, missed meals, and so forth. All said and done, it’s definitely worth one’s while for discovering new places, embarking on adventures, meeting interesting people, and tasting diverse cuisines.

Finally, I feel the tourism and travel agents must pay their debt of gratitude to the tinsel world. Shortly after a film-making team and crew head to a hitherto unexplored destination, rest assured that in less than a year’s time, travel desks are bound to get flooded with queries regarding packages, budget accommodation, etc. Mt Titlis, Venice, Dubai, and Hong Kong are a few cases in point.

Picture design by Anumita Roy

Ruchira Adhikari Ghosh

Ruchira Adhikari Ghosh brings a liberal, wide-ranging outlook shaped by extensive travel across India and abroad. Educated at Holy Child School, New Delhi, Sacred Heart Convent, Ludhiana, and Panjab University, Chandigarh, she holds a Master’s in English Literature and a postgraduate diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication. With three decades in media, she writes on travel, books, music, performing arts, women’s issues, and especially food, drawing inspiration from rich life experiences. She is our Features Editor.