The Indian market has shown an interest in Russian musicals and cartoons that have a strong musical component. At the same time, Indian companies are ready to participate in the creation of films together with Russian studios, Alexey Kozulyaev, CEO of the RuFilms Group, said on the sidelines of the 53rd International Film Festival of India.
"All Russian musical films, all of them without exception, which have a strong musical component, have enjoyed success in India. Of the recent ones, ‘Stilyagi’ did well here. It was a real success. It's actually a musical... Cartoons with a very good musical component also do well here. The animated series 'Three Cats' reached the Indian market with a bang, because it had a very strong soundtrack," he told Russian journalists.
Kozulyaev noted that several films, strong musicals that will be released soon, were now in production.
"And, apparently, here (in India) they will score very well. Indians are jumping at them," the expert stressed. At the same time, he added that few musicals are made in Russia despite it having a strong musical culture.
"It makes sense that musical films should be in demand in India, because the audience likes that. So why Russian producers are not making musical films, I do have questions about it," the expert added.
One of Asia's oldest film festivals, the International Film Festival of India, opened on Sunday in the Indian state of Goa, which will feature 280 films from 79 countries, including Russia.
In addition to film screenings as part of the film festival, a Film Bazaar will be held, an event dedicated to film distribution. Ten Russian film companies will take part, including Central Partnership, Art Pictures Distribution, and Soyuzmultfilm. Among the new Russian films that will be presented in India for content buyers are a prequel to the comic book blockbuster about the Major Thunder movie, "Major Thunder: A Hard Childhood," the historical drama "Union of Salvation. Time of Rage," the Hindi translation of the animated series "Tsvetnyashki," the new animated film "Chink: The Tailed Detective," and many others.