China’s love affair with Indian cinema highlighted at FICCI-FRAMES 2023

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Indian films have found both fans and revenues in China. Chinese audiences are seduced by Indian content. They respond to films in a way that is often more passionate than local Indians. Both Indians and Chinese believe in the idea of family, of working together as a family to become what they are. The whole concept about the family being a source of inspiration and encouragement is very Indian and also very Chinese. Indian cinema is now gaining popularity across the world, particularly in China, which has a vast and growing film market. The films, which include 3 Idiots, Dangal, PK, Secret Superstar, AndhaDhun, Bajrangi Bhaijaan and more, are helping to showcase the diversity and richness of Indian culture and society and to bring the two countries closer together.

All this was stated at the annual FICCI-FRAMES entertainment business convection 2023 by Chinese film producer and distributor Pablo Ren Baolu. “I do believe the content of India, storytelling, and acting style is particularly well-suited for the Chinese market. We share a similar background and cultural heritage.”

He added, “I plan to try and advertise many Indian cinema genres in China as well as through any other means possible, such as film festivals. There are several festivals and also cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Hainan and Fuju. Therefore, we are going to introduce several Hindi-language film genres in this festival first so that the public is familiar with them before we take them to the market for theatrical release. I hope that the Chinese audience will enjoy the unique stories, characters, and themes that Indian cinema has to offer and that we can continue to work together to create films that resonate with audiences around the world.” Let us not forget that, thanks to China collections alone, the worldwide gross of Dangal crossed the record-smashing Bahubali 2—The Conclusion.

While our films have been universally popular in USA, Canada, UK, the Middle-East and Australia and New Zealand, besides being surreptitiously watched in Pakistan, there are countries where specific films or stars have found big markets, like Raj Kapoor’s cinema in Russia, Rajinikanth’s movies in Japan and so on.

In 2017, an Indo-Chinese co-production, Kung-Fu Yoga featuring Jackie Chan and Disha Patani, had also released.