Today is World Bollywood Day. A celebration of the Hindi film industry that is popular world wide. It is undoubtedly the largest film producing industry in the world. In 2023, around 1700 films hit the theatre screens. The total collection in 2023 was Rs 11, 500 crores, which is a number not to be sneezed at. In this industry, the presence of Goans has been substantial. From actors, singers to production managers, Goans have been present in all aspects of film making.
Deepak Lobo, a writer and director says “I’m more content using the term Indian film industry rather than Bollywood. World Bollywood Day is being commemorated to honour and celebrate the release of the first full length Indian film, ‘Raja Harishchandra’ on September 24, 1913. There was no Bollywood at that time. Now, coming to the contribution of Goans to the film industry. Long before Liberation in 1961 and Statehood in 1987, Goa has been a major contributor to the film world. The early influence was in music and you had musicians, singers, music arrangers and composers, many of who brought Goan influences like Dixieland, Portuguese Fado, Mozart compositions to the film industry. Among these, you cannot ignore the contribution of Anthony Gonsalves, and the film industry paid him a tribute by having a song in his name performed by the Big B.”
He goes on to say that since the early 1980s, Goans were the main exponents of Jazz and Western music, and played a major role in the film music. They worked with OP Nayyar, C Ramchandra, Shankar Jai Kishan, Laxmikant Pyarelal, S D Burman. Other than music, you have Goans like Vithal Karekar in art direction (Khote Sikkay & Tipu Sultan), Waman Bhosale in editing, K Vaikunt in cinematography, who have worked in Bollywood. All these stalwarts have worked with the likes of Gulzar, Ramesh Sippy, Ramanand Sagar to create some masterpieces of Indian cinema.
The State of Goa was a major attraction. He says, “Goa is an extremely popular place to shoot. With more films being shot in Goa, Bollywood-obsessed domestic tourists are making a beeline to Goa. According to some of my industry associates, accessibility, mobility, connectivity, and most of all friendly Goans, are assets when it comes to shooting in Goa. Within the space of 105 kilometres × 60 kilometres, Goa itself is a studio. Late Baba Naik has to be credited in bringing in big names and banners to shoot their films in Goa." Some of the prominent films shot in picturesque Goa that is blessed with natural beauty include, 'Saat Hindustani', 'Gumraah', 'Bombay to Goa', 'Bhumika', 'Agnipath' (old), 'Josh', 'Khamoshi', 'Golmaal, 'Go Goa Gone', 'Guzarish', 'Akele Hum Akele Tum', 'Dil Chahta Hai', 'Dhoom', 'Honeymoon Travels', 'Singham' (Cop Universe), 'Finding Fanny, 'Ek Villain', 'Dear Zindagi', 'Murder 2', 'Coffin Maker', 'Ajab Prem ki Gajab Kahaani' and 'Aashiqui 2'.
The film industry has given a boost to Goa’s tourism, says Deepak. However he says there was a dark side to it too. Quite often Goa is portrayed in a bad light, as a sun, sand and sex destination. Bollywood uses Goans as ABCD – Aaya-Butler-Cook-Driver. This will continue until any son of the soil, true Goan writers and directors, make a Bollywood film. Only a Goan will be able to do justice to the nuances and art and culture of Goa. He points out that it was a point to ponder that even though there are prominent names in the technical – musical and art fields of Bollywood – there are hardly any Goans who are prominent actors. He bemoaned the fact that one never saw a Goan get a prominent acting credit line. The list he says is tiny. This scenario can only change when local filmmaking gets patronage from the Goan people and the State Government.
The presence of musicians has been extraordinary. Colin D'Cruz, noted musician based in Goa says, “Although jazz is my first love, my commercial success has been performing worldwide with Bollywood icons like Asha Bhosle, Sonu Nigam, Shubha Mudgal and Hemaa Sardesai. I have produced a Bollywood-Jazz album that made Indian music palatable to western ears”.
Tony Dias, a music arranger now based in Goa was involved in Bollywood for ten years. Proficient in the piano, he used to play the instrument for other music directors. He used to work with the team of music director Mahesh Kishore. Tony was basically involved in the background score. He worked in a lot of movies and laughs and says he did know the exact number of movies he had worked in. He says, "It was an interesting experience. I used to sometimes have four musicians and on other occasions the full orchestra with 30 violins. I was in the rhythm section. I remember playing in 'Love 86', an early Govinda movie. Then I worked in 'Henna', a movie by Raj Kumar. Then there was 'Parampara' and 'Shatriya'. I also played with Amar Haldipur. Recordings either took place in Bandra or Tardeo. It was certainly fun.”
Mirabel Pereira was western chorus background singer in Bollywood from 1990 to 1999. She sang in 'Phool aur Kaante'. For her, it was an experience that changed her life. Sharon Rodrigues was another chorus background singer. In 1986, she was working with Lakshmikant Pyarelal and then Anu Malik, Shankar Ehsaan Loy to name a few. She was a singer on 'Kal Ho Na Ho' and other Karan Johar movies. This was also helped by the fact that she was also working with Jatin Lalit. She says it was a great experience. She learned about blending and singing in voices.
Of course, there is Hema Sardesai. She is the only Indian singer to sing duets in films featuring Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan, Anil Kapoor, Naseerudin Shah, Govinda and Saif Ali khan. For her, the interest in Bollywood was normal because of the radio that played the songs in the morning. She was discovered after singing a Bollywood song. Later in Germany while representing India at the Grand Prix, she won the top prize and was given a prize for being the audience darling prize by judges who were all German. She has sung over 100 songs in Bollywood and she thanks her parents and her sister for giving her that push.
When asked what advice she would give youngsters in Goa interested in a career in Bollywood, she says, she did not compromise on principles, values and virtues. "It is important to have faith in your talent. God would then work with you. Success was one who came out smiling after experiencing it all and did not care if they were famous or powerful. They should
do things for others , it is important to have ethics and be principled."
Shiva Baba Naik, a co-producer and line producer, he is a name no one can ignore when they come to Goa. A member of the industry for thirty to forty years, he followed his father into the field. His father, Baba Naik ensured that 'Great Gambler' and 'Prem Bandhan' were shot in Goa. Later on 'Saat Hindustani', 'Ram Lakhan', 'Kabhi Kabhi' were all shot in Goa. Shiv helped in the shooting of 'Agnipath' featuring Amitabh. It was a 40 day shoot and it was on the set of a village created near Cidade de Goa. He bemoans the fact that the cost of making a film had increased dramatically in Goa. The cost of everything had increased.
Another person involved in the production side of movies in Goa is Sandeep Kotecha. He is also the President of Line Producers. He has been in the business for more than 40 years. He, however, bemoans the fact that the last year and a half was terrible for the business. Sandeep says, “How many films are being shot in Goa these days compared to three years ago. Goa keeps increasing rates. They come here for a recce and then go and shoot in Bangkok. Over there they are charged just 5000 Baht per location. Here, it is Rs 2 lakh per location. They take Rs 25,000 every year from us. Why can't that money be taken from the film producer?"
He adds, “Some people only want to shoot on the beach, others want to shoot on the road which is Rs 25,000 per shoot. We also donate to the local temple and church so that the local people don’t make a noise. There are a lot of illegal shoots taking place of video albums by people from Mumbai, Delhi and Punjab.” He started off as a junior artist in 1982 with a movie called 'Pukar' involving Amitabh and Randhir Kapoor and then gradually moved behind the camera. It has been an interesting experience for him.
For a state of this size it can be safely said that Goa has punched way above its weight in Bollywood.