"Chalo Sweden". Shooting a film in Sweden will be a cakewalk for "Bollywood" filmmakers. A red carpet welcome awaits them.
Kunnie and Chris
Meet Kunnie and Chris, the Indo-Swedish couple, your "friendly facilitators" who promote Bollywood in Sweden and Sweden to Bollywood.
Ms. Kunnie Topden is from Sikkim, now settled in Sweden. She is a fashion designer and a businesswoman who loves and lives Bollywood cinema. Mr. Christer Holmgren is Swedish, he is a trained actor, a highly acclaimed film and theatre director, and owns a production outfit called Riksfilm . He also has his own theatre company called Konferensteatern . He has been associated with major Theatre and Film productions in Sweden as an actor and director. He has also worked with legendary Bergmans company. Kunnie & Chris live as a couple in Stockholm and when you are planning to shoot your film in Sweden, you better get in touch with them. They can be your guide, friend, philosopher, and "friendly facilitators" in the land of the Nobel. They do this out of their passion for Indian films. They did this for Romesh Sharma"s "Dil Jo Bhi Kahe" and will soon be doing it for other filmmakers from India who are planning to shoot their films in Sweden. They are visiting India to meet filmmakers, and Indian officials to explore the possibilities of Indo-Swedish co-productions, and to promote Sweden as the most preferred shooting destination of filmmakers from India. They spoke to Complete Cinema about their ideas, and plans.
Ms. Kunnie Topden is from Sikkim, now settled in Sweden. She is a fashion designer and a businesswoman who loves and lives Bollywood cinema. Mr. Christer Holmgren is Swedish, he is a trained actor, a highly acclaimed film and theatre director, and owns a production outfit called Riksfilm . He also has his own theatre company called Konferensteatern . He has been associated with major Theatre and Film productions in Sweden as an actor and director. He has also worked with legendary Bergmans company. Kunnie & Chris live as a couple in Stockholm and when you are planning to shoot your film in Sweden, you better get in touch with them. They can be your guide, friend, philosopher, and "friendly facilitators" in the land of the Nobel. They do this out of their passion for Indian films. They did this for Romesh Sharma"s "Dil Jo Bhi Kahe" and will soon be doing it for other filmmakers from India who are planning to shoot their films in Sweden. They are visiting India to meet filmmakers, and Indian officials to explore the possibilities of Indo-Swedish co-productions, and to promote Sweden as the most preferred shooting destination of filmmakers from India. They spoke to Complete Cinema about their ideas, and plans.Q. What brings you to India this time?
Chris: We came for the Goa Film Festival on behalf of the Swedish Film Commission. I have been coming to India regularly. I love this country. I once went around the southern states of India on a motorcycle. I have also been acting in Indian films. I did a role in "Dil Jo Bhi Kahe". I have just done an assignment for a Malyalam film being made by Jayaraj.
Kunnie: I am an Indian, born in Sikkim. India is my motherland. I also wanted to follow up on the earlier efforts made by us to promote Sweden as a major shooting destination for filmmakers from India. We had organised a reconnaissance trip for a group of filmmakers that included Mukesh Bhatt, Mohit Suri and Nileish Malhotra.
Q. Why do you think Indian filmmakers should go to Sweden for the shooting of their films?
Kunnie: Exactly for the reasons they go to Switzerland. Sweden offers you exotic, exciting and breathtaking locales that are yet untouched. And I am not only talking about Stockholm that is known as Venice of the North. There are other regions of Sweden that can be very easily used as a backdrop of an Indian story and they are as beautiful and have unique characteristics to offer. There is a lot worth being explored and exploited.
Q. Is it not true that shooting in Sweden can be a bit expensive proposition for Indian filmmakers?
Kunnie: It is true that Swedish lifestyle is expensive. However, the Government and non-government institutions in Sweden are now warming up to the idea of "Bollywood" because we have succeeded in convincing them that a whole lot of opportunities open up after Bollywood shows the picturesque Sweden in its films. "Dil Jo Bi Kahe" has created tremendous interest among Swedish authorities about Bollywood films. Moreover, in Sweden there is nothing to be paid for locations thanks to our laws like the Right of Public Access. You can shoot on Stockholm streets without paying any charge. We also have long summer days.
Chris: We are also very efficient and are English-speaking people. That could save a lot of production time and money. We also have a tradition of high-standard filmmaking. It is a very stimulating atmosphere for filmmakers. You can do everything there, from pre-production to post-production, and we have state-of-the-art facilities to offer at competitive rates. The Swedish officials as well as others are very excited about Indo-Swedish cooperation in the area of films and other cultural exchanges. They are willing to lay a red carpet now. We keep in touch with the Sweden Film Commission as well the regional Film Commissions.
Q. Are the Swedish authorities contemplating something like a "Co-production Treaty" with India?
Kunnie: We are working towards that. I am going to New Delhi to meet the officials there with definite proposals. But we need not wait for a treaty to make things moving. Shooting of films in Sweden can be a joy ride even today. Indian filmmakers will be extended a lot of goodwill gestures from various stakeholders in Sweden. All this can make it really economical to shoot Indian films in Sweden. We know how to go about it. We are here to convey this message to "Bollywood". We want to repeat the Swiss story in Sweden. It is our crusade, and mission.
Q. Have you been in touch with producers like Mr. Yash Chopra?
Kunnie: Yes. They have shown interest. We are ready to work out special packages for Bollywood producers like him. We are open to everything. I am an Indian and I know Sweden can fit into Bollywood scheme of things perfectly.
Chris: It is not that we want Bollywood to come and just use Swedish locales for their dream, dance, and song sequences. We want to go beyond that. We want to get into co-productions to make films that are truly considered the "cinema of the world". There can be cooperation in every department of filmmaking, from scripts to production and direction and even acting. We can create a common pool of talent and resources. We can provide Indian filmmakers access to the filmmaking infra-structure of Sweden to help realise their cinematic dreams. All this can be mutually beneficial in development and growth of film art, craft, and business.
Q. How do you promote Bollywood to Swedish authorities?
Kunnie: When you have a film like "Dil Jo Bhi Kahe", it is not all that difficult. We have been organising private screenings of the film to various ministries, institutions, industry bigwigs, and other important individuals to drive our point home. The Swedish Ministry of Industries has been very supportive. The entire trip of the group of producers that went on the reconnaissance in April, 2005, was sponsored by the ministry. It shows our high level of interest in Bollywood and a very serious intent and commitment to work with filmmakers here.
Chris: A seminar was also organised in India as a precursor to that trip. The Export Trade Organisation of Sweden supported it. We act as a bridge between Indian filmmakers and Swedish authorities and people. We think we understand the needs of both sides very well and see a lot of willingness on their part to get into business partnerships.
Q. This is to Chris. You are a trained actor, director, and filmmaker, who has been associated with legendary names an institutions. What do you think of Bollywood films?
Chris: It is a great genre. Very colourful, and vibrant. It is time Bollywood films get recognised in the world for their unique cinematic style and presentation. I loved working in Romesh Sharma"s "Dil Jo Bhi Kahe". In fact, I have been offered roles in other films. I would love to be called a Bollywood actor. I love everything Indian, in fact. (Looks at Kunnie, and smiles). I am biased. I think I am a hard-core Bollywood fan and that is why I want Bollywood films to be made in Sweden.
Kunnie and Chris can be contacted at
Phone: + 46 8 765 30 62
Fax: + 46 8 767 40 50
Mobile: + 46 - 707 156 156