Film prodcuer/director/actor, Prateek Chakravorty, a former overseas student in Sydney, wrote a film script titled ‘From Sydney.. with Love”. Drawing on his own experiences here, he created a story about an Indian woman – played by actress Bidata Bag, who gets a scholarship to the University of NSW and her love life.
L-Director Prateek Chakravorty, Line Producer Anupam Sharma, First AD Connor Reid on the sets at UNSW
It’s a debut feature for Prateek, who is reviving his grandfather (Pramod Chakravorty) famous company, Pramod Films (www.pramodfilms.com). Prateek is a graduate of Subash Ghai’s “Whistling Woods” film school in Mumbai.
Students still on campus following summer exams are being treated to their first glimpse of a Bollywood film in action.
This is the first time an actual Australian university will be featured as part of a Bollywood storyline. The UNSW name will feature visually and in the dialogue. Welcoming the crew, Pro Vice-Chancellor Jennie Lang said UNSW had close links with India, with a sculpture of Gandhi occupying one of the most prominent places at the University. “I am creatively very happy that I am using an actual university and not a fictitious one ,” says Prateek. “UNSW has a great campus and it’s a visual delight to film.”
Heading up the local production effort is Temple’s Anupam Sharma, Australia’s leading specialist of Indian cinema.
An alumnus of UNSW, where he did his first thesis on India cinema, Anupam Sharma says: “It’s an honour to use films to positively represent my uni where I learned films and media. I can’t wait for hundred of millions of viewers around the world to see and hear about UNSW, my alma mater.”
The tie up with UNSW involves cross-promotional activities leading up the release of the film in May.
The film is the latest in the series of Bollywood films spending more than money on Australian film services and locations by scripting Australia and various aspects of Australian culture in the film for its vast viewer base.
L - Line Producer Anupam Sharma, Actress Bidata Bag, Photographer Raj Suri. Picture:Nick
Australian based photographer/talent spotter Raj Suri was present at the set at the UNSW campus. Raj suri says ” It is great to see 3rd generation Indian film talent in the form of Prateek Chakravorty scripting Australian thread in the storyline which can truly enhance the Australian experience for the Indian audience and hopefully also give the Australian audience a first hand cultural perceptive of India within Australia. Films like these go a long way to bridge the two cultures and forms a great opportunity for Australia in general”
The shooting will continue till the 2nd week of December around Sydney for the 35 strong crew from India. From Sydney …With Love will be released worldwide in May 2012 with a red carpet gala premiere being planned in Sydney.
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