Chennai’s great film studios are nicknamed “Kollywood” — the Tamil answer to Bollywood. Unlike those of Mumbai, the AVM and Prasad studios are usually open to visitors (with the chance of catching a shooting day).
Visiting a studio
I attended a shoot at the Prasad studios: great fun, especially the contrast between very rudimentary means (papier-mâché sets whose colour came off on your fingers) and ultra-sophisticated equipment.
The world’s biggest film producer
India makes four times as many films as Hollywood, with huge success in India and far beyond (Indonesia, North Africa, Nigeria…). Reputed superficial and kitsch, this cinema follows strict codes: three-hour films, punctuated by five or six songs, lavish music and choreography — “a carefully balanced blend, like the spices of a curry”. Unlike Hollywood, songs and dances are an integral part of the story.
“Indian cinema has very strict, very Indian codes that travel badly to the West; but once you accept them, you have a lot of fun.”
Anne-Gaëlle Doshi
The year 2013 marked the centenary of Indian cinema: “100 Years of Indian Cinema”.
