Art & Entertainment

A Family Sega

In Mauritius to shoot his film, Amitabh turns a brand ambassador for the nation

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A Family Sega
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Ek chehra hi aankh mein ghume shyam savere to...to samajhna mere munna
Dil Jo Bhi Kahey
Dil
Dil
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C'est La Vie
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His character in Dil... is an immigrant from Chhapra in Bihar. "There's lots of Hindi and English besides French and Creole. I've also spoken Bhojpuri," he says. But doesn't it sound like another Bollywood NRI film rather than a strictly Mauritian chronicle? It's about "PIOs", not "NRIs", we're told. And it's not about syrupy nri nostalgia for home and hearth (Karan Johar, please note). "It's more gritty and realistic," says Sharma, who can claim to have an insight into the country courtesy his Mauritian in-laws.

Potentially, Dil... could offer an interesting window to the diaspora in Mauritius. The island nation packs in a huge variety of cultures—Hindus, Creole, Chinese, Muslims and Europeans. Most of the Indo-Mauritians came in during the indentured labour migration in the 1890s—primarily from Bihar, UP, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.Today, they form almost 70 per cent of the 1.2 million population. It's a community that carries forward the customs and religious practices but doesn't look back at India for security and comfort. They are happy being Mauritians and correct you if you refer to them as Indians. "It's about people who've come ahead in life the hard way, who have toiled with total dedication," says Bachchan. But behind their infectious friendliness and success, there's also a history of struggle. While the Indo-Mauritian community has grown in stature and holds political and administrative power, the tiny Franco-Mauritian community controls a major part of the economy. It's the resultant fissures which the film focuses on.

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"We have similar Indian communities in the West Indies, Fiji and Africa which should get attention," says Sharma. That's for the future. For now Dil... is being billed as the first big "Mauritian" film. And everyone knows Bachchan is playing one of them, be it the immigration officer at the airport or the ticket vendor at the tourist spot, "Coloured Earth of Chameral". The appropriation of Bollywood by Mauritius has economic implications. So, the political and bureaucratic cadre led by President Anerood Jugnauth was in full attendance at an official dinner held for the film's cast and crew at the plush Indian Resorts and Spa Hotel, Le Morne. "Mauritius is happy to be associated with a person of Amitabh Bachchan's stature," said President Jugnauth. Bachchan himself recollected his first visit in 1986 as a member of a parliamentary delegation and his subsequent trips for the shooting of Agnipath, Bade Miyan Chhote Miyan and Armaan. "Shooting has been a pleasure. We do have a lot in common," said Big B.

Unwittingly, he's also become the Brand Mauritius ambassador. Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority has been nurturing links with Bollywood to reach out to Indian consumers ever since the first Indian film, Chandi Sona, was shot here in 1973. "With the Big B playing a Mauritian, we are becoming more serious in our thrust on India," says Raj Bhujohory, GM, Air Mauritius. Since October 2004, the country is extending visa-on-arrival facility for Indians. "Around 25,000 Indians visited here in 2003. Our aim is to touch 1,00,000," says Bhujohory. Air Mauritius has signed an MoU with Air Sahara to penetrate the Indian market. The plush Indian Resorts and Spa hotel, which has been housing the Big B, too hopes to lure rich Indians. In October, it set up three offices, in Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. In June 2005, Balaji Telefilms will shoot their soaps here. "It'll help us reach about 50 million Indians," says Bhujohory. However, their next big milestone is simple—to celebrate Diwali with the Big B.

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