The Hindu Business Line : Gold Coast beckons Indian film industry

Hyderabad, Oct. 18 When the Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi starrer Shankar Dada Zindabad’s song sequence was shot in Australia’s Gold Coast at the end of August, it only represented a growing trend.

Portions of the remake of Bollywood hit, with Sanjay Dutt playing the lead role, Lage Raho Munnabhai in Telugu was filmed on the exotic beaches and tourist friendly locales of the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia.

‘Hot destination’

Gold Coast is fast emerging as the next hot film destination with all it has to offer to the Indian film industry. With provisions for equipment and crew, Indian film makers have a cost-effective shooting experience, says Ms Sharon Harvey of the Gold Coast Tourism (GCT), based in Mumbai.

The GCT has successfully gained stakeholder support for a Five Year Plan for tourism on the Gold Coast, with a record $50 million funding agreement with Gold Coast City Council. The CEO of GCT is Mr Pavan Bhatia of Indian origin, she said.

In addition to its scenic locales, Gold Coast offers an exciting holiday package for the leisure tourist from India. Efforts are being made to attract a larger number of Indians in the coming years, she told Business Line here recently.

“With Gemini productions and other film companies that have started using the locales, new avenues have opened up to us in the business and we look forward to working with Indian film makers as we have the expertise, the technology and an exotic location to explore,” she said.

Theme park capital

Gold Coast is Australia’s Theme Park capital with over 22 venues such as Dreamworld, Warner Bros Movie World, Wet ’N Wild Water World, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Paradise Country etc that can offer a good holiday experience for both the young and the old, she explained.

With tourists from India steadily growing, the GCT has worked out a strategy to present Gold Coast as Australia’s leading safe and secure holiday destination where families, honeymooners, adventure enthusiasts to the backpacking club can freely explore and spend a nice holiday, Ms Harvey said.

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