Dhollywood goes all out to woo global Gujaratis

Recently, when Dhollywood stars arrived in Los Angeles to attend the International Gujarati Film Festival (IGFF), the Gujarati community welcomed them with much enthusiasm. Not only did Non-Resident Gujaratis (NRGs) happily clicked selfies with them, but also were equally eager to attend the screenings of various Gujarati films. And this is just one of the many efforts that Dhollywood is making to capture a thriving Gujarati community settled in various parts of the world. From overseas releases, film festival hopping and global premieres, Gujarati films are surely going places. Filmmakers are not only vying for worldwide releases, but they are also tailor making films for international film festivals. To add a novelty factor, filmmakers like Urvish Parikh and Dhwani Gautam have also shot their films in foreign locales in recent past. There is a huge market overseas which, if tapped well can be the perfect platform for the financial well-being of the industry.In last few years, films like Bas Ek Chance, Hu Tu Tu Tu, Wrong Side Raju, Bhanwar, Roll No 56, Love Ni Bhavai, Sharato Lagu, Natsamrat, Gujjubhai Most Wanted, Kachindo and Chaal Jeevi Laiye were released in various cities in countries like the US, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand. With a thriving Gujarati community settled in various parts of the world, it is a market that has a lot of potential. And Gujarati filmmakers are now eyeing to cash in that.Not just that, even overseas audience has become more accepting of regional stories from India that are very earthy and authentic in their feel.