The stunning fjords of Norway and its picturesque towns are likely to become a more common sight for Indian film lovers as the Scandinavian country has come up with an incentive of up to 25 percent subsidy on the cost of shooting a film on its soil, says Ambassador of Norway to India Nils Ragnar Kamsvag.
“The Norwegian Government and the Norwegian Film Institute anticipate that the system of incentives will keep local projects in the country and bring in more international projects, including from countries like India. Application rules have been made available in the public domain already,” Kamsvag told IANS.“Stunning, un-spoilt nature, the fjords, the mountains and picturesque towns are a perfect recipe that Norway offers to the Indian film industry. The movies shot in Norway have used only a small part of our locations so far, and we have many, many more locations to offer,” Kamsvag noted.
India filmmakers have already reacted to this announcement with enthusiasm as Anish Tejeswar-starrer “Akira” has become the first Kannada film ever to be shot there."It was an incredible experience to be at the locations in Norway that are so untouched, new and beautiful," Anish said of Norway during the recent audio release of the upcoming film."Norway is entering the Indian films market slowly, but has a lot to offer. I am sure seeing Indian actors doing dance steps in freezing temperatures is a new experience for Norwegians, but our partners there have already started enjoying the charm of Indian cinema,” Richard Wallace (Richie), international locations coordinator for “Akira”, said."The beauty of the whole of Europe is put together in one Norway. Indian films will make sure this beauty is exposed to the global audience in the near future. Norway offers an excellent mix of natural beauty and city charm for the Indian cameras to capture," Wallace noted."This is the first time that a Kannada movie has been shot at an international location at this grand scale. I am sure that this will set a good precedent for other filmmakers in not only Bangalore, but the rest of the country," Wallace added.