Madhya Pradesh tourism has always got a boost from Bollywood, an industry that’s shown a preference for shooting scenes of many popular movies in this state. With Kiran Rao’s latest — Laapataa Ladies – having been shot at Sehore in this state, the buzz is back on MP as the ideal backdrop to stories that narrate tales about the Indian hinterland.
A host of factors, including idyllic locations, friendly government policies and a great variation in backdrops, have encouraged film producers to consider Madhya Pradesh as a location for their films. These productions star a mix of upcoming and established actors and tell stories that resonate with the audience. Locations in popular tourist destinations like Orchha, Khajuraho, Mandu, Maheshwar, Ujjain and Chanderi figure prominently in the films along with less explored locales in Jabalpur, Gwalior, Raisen and Sehore.
Here are five memorable movies that celebrate MP on celluloid:
Jai Gangaajal (2016) – Directed by Prakash Jha; Produced by Prakash Jha Productions
Actress Priyanka Chopra began shooting for this movie back in 2015, in locations like the Jama Masjid chowk of old Bhopal. The sequel to the movie Gangaajal, Jai Gangaajal tells the story of Abha Mathur, a Superintendent of Police with a will of her own, played by Chopra. The movie traces her fight for justice, and whether she survives the system or gets crushed by it. Shot on a budget of Rs 33 crore, it was filmed in Bhopal, and director Prakash Jha also did a recce of Sehore in 2014 to look for shooting locations.
Revolver Rani (2013) – Directed by Sai Kabir; Produced by Crouching Tiger Motion Pictures
Another film with a woman in the lead, Revolver Rani stars Kangana Ranaut who, as per some media reports, had initial apprehensions shooting scenes in the middle of the street in Gwalior. However, after the shoot was over, she is said to have been impressed by the people of MP. The film depicts the unconventional love story between the characters Alka Singh (Ranaut) and Rohan Mehra (Vir Das).
Peepli Live (2010) – Directed by Anusha Rizvi; Produced by Aamir Khan Productions
Starring acclaimed actors like Raghubir Yadav, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Naseeruddin Shah, among others, this film tells the grim story of farmer suicides as well as the media and political response to this ground reality. MP cities Bhopal and Indore feature prominently in the film, which was shot majorly at Barwai village, 60 km from Bhopal. In fact, Aamir Khan, who produced the movie, revealed to the media that many actors in the film belong to the tribal communities from the state.
Ashoka (2001) – Directed by Sangeet Sivan; Produced by Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla
Starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kareena Kapoor in the lead roles, this epic historical drama dramatised the life of emperor Ashoka. Many important scenes were shot at Maheshwar and other parts of Madhya Pradesh. The popular song “Raat ka nasha” was filmed in the Marble Rocks area of Bhedaghat. The standout feature of this production is that despite it being an epic drama, special effects were kept to a minimum.
Raajneeti (2010) – Directed by Prakash Jha; Produced by Prakash Jha Productions
Shot mostly in Bhopal, this political thriller tells the story of the rivalry between parties and families. The star-studded cast includes names like Ajay Devgn, Nana Patekar, Naseeruddin Shah, Ranbir Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Arjun Rampal and Manoj Bajpayee. Media reports suggest that 20 places across Bhopal were shortlisted as shooting locations for the film, which turned out to be a box-office and critical success.
The lead image at the top shows stills from (left to right) Jai GangaaJal, Laapataa Ladies and Revolver Rani. (Photos from Wikipedia)
