Gujarati films going for global cast, expertise

Ahmedabad: The changing character of Gujarati films not only reflects a shift to city-centric themes but also adoption of new type of characters which were not part of movie plots earlier.

The latest trend is use of foreign actors and actresses. No less than three films have featured actresses from abroad. In recent 'urban' Gujarati movies, the trend began with 'Rom Com' in which Elvira Stoian played a role.

In the recently released 'Wrong Side Raju', the role of the female character who comes from outside India, was a little bigger when the character of

Shaily Asher

was performed by London-based production-designer, Kimberley Louisa McBeath. She had come to India to perform this character as she was then busy with theatre production in UK. She played the lead character as the protagonist of the film falls in love with her and performs a heroic act to save her.

The filmmakers are very clear about the roles they offer to foreign actors - they should not just add to the glamour quotient of the films. Rajesh Sharma, director of the upcoming film, 'Passport', said that such characters have now become a requirement of films as the plots demand it.

The third such character of a foreigner is played by a Belarusian actress, Anna Ador, in 'Passport'. She is playing the protagonist in this film as daughter of an American father and an Indian mother. The American's role has been performed by Dave Mayer, who works with Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad. A French actress - Aeene Balaram - also features in this film.

Ador, the protagonist of 'Passport', has worked in Hindi theatre and movies like '

Udta Punjab

' and 'Fredrick'. Ador is quite impressed with her experience in

Gujarat

. Quite well-versed in Hindi, Ador found it challenging to understand the local language, though she is not required to speak immaculate Gujarati in the film.

However, the greatest challenge she faced in Gujarat was the climate. "It was the hottest month of the year. It was physically exhausting to run on city streets at 2 pm in hot summer," she said.

It is not only Western actors who play such characters in Gujarati films, Thailand-based model-actress Tori Lao-lee played a major role in, 'Tu To Gayo'.

Gujarati films are going global not only in casting but are use of technical expertise from around the world. Legendary sound remastering engineer from UK, Simon Gibson of

Abbey Road Studios

, who worked in

Hollywood

blockbusters like 'The Hobbit' and the James Bond-thriller 'Skyfall', is involved in music remastering of 'Shubh Aarambh'. Renowned US-based guitarist Misha Joseph has played violin in this film. Moreover, Spanish cameraman

Borja Campillo

was the director of photography in 'Pela Adhi Akshar'.

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