Bollywood brings "Cash" to Cape Town

Monday, September 25, 2006

"Cash", the appropriately named first Indian movie to be set and filmed in Cape Town, has prompted high hopes that Bollywood bucks will soon flow big time into the South African city.

Capetown has alot to gain from this enterprise -- not only the more than US$800,000 that the service and accomodation industries stand to make, but also the substancial boost to the tourism industry in general.

Record numbers of Indians are now travelling abroad due mainly to the country's unprecedented economic boom and exploding middle class. Choice destinations include Switzerland and Mauritius.

"There are three religions in India," said SA Tourism's Lance Littlefield. "The first is religion. The second is cricket. The third is Bollywood."

Cities around the globe are eager to host lavish Bollywood productions, as the industry is easily twice as large as Hollywood and has massive, largely untapped, potential to be used as a tourism marketing tool. The Indian film industry is based in Mumbai - formerly known as Bombay, hence the "Bollywood" moniker.

Cash, will combine a familiar mix of action, comedy, love and deception, and will be filmed over the next two months in central Cape Town.

Although previous Indian films have used Cape Town for certain scenes, especially dance routines, authorities are especially happy that the city will be portrayed as itself this time. Cape Town is ranked as the world's fifth most important film production location, mostly for to its majestic mountain backdrop, long white beaches and glistening sea, as well as plenty of gritty inner city scenery.