Bollywood has lately been discovering the vibrant small towns and villages of India as the filmmakers have turned the concept of ‘new locations’ for their films.
Many forthcoming films have taken this path of having the location of the film set in small towns. Upcoming films like Jackky Bhagnani’s Mitron – Ahmedabad, Manmarziyaan– Amritsar, Punjab, Milan Talkies – Lucknow and Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Loveratri – Baroda, Gujarat, Kedarnath – Uttarakhand Arjun Patiala – Patiala, Punjab, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga – Patiala, Punjab, Luka Chhupi – Mathura, Batti Gul Meter Chalu – Tehri, Uttrakhand.
Let’s take a look at Bollywood films set in a small town:-
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Jackky Bhagnani and Kritika Kamra starrer Mitron
Mitro: Jackky Bhagnani and Kritika Kamra
The film has been shot on the unexplored locations of Gujarat. The city of Ahmedabad has been explored intensively for the film. the film traces the journey of Jay (Jackky Bhagnani) and Avni (Kritika Kamra), as they set on the path of finding themselves amidst their social and cultural backgrounds.
Manmarziyaan
Manmarziyaan: Vicky Kaushal & Tapsee Pannu
For Bollywood actors, who are used to foreign locales, working at a small-town location has its own charm. The film has extensively been shot in Amritsar and other parts of Punjab.
“People want to see their own country,” says producer Bhushan Kumar, whose next Batti Gul Meter Chalu, has been shot in one such small town: Tehri, Uttrakhand.
Aayush Sharma and Warina Hussain starrer Loveratri
Loveratri: Warina Hussain & Aayush Sharma
Abhiraj Minawala is making his directorial debut with Loveratri, shot in Baroda. He says while shooting for the film, he discovered that it’s such a “culturally rich city”. He elaborates, “The flavour of this city is not seen in recent times [in cinema]. Also, what adds value is the audience in these towns. Now that our reach has increased so much more, they instantly connect with such films.”
Milan Talkies
Milan Talkies: Ali Fazal & Shraddha Srinath
Ali, who shot in Lucknow and Mathura, for Milan Talkies, feels that the “the appeal of foreign locales has been a very relevant aspect in Bollywood films”, but shooting in India is a different experience altogether. “I think films that are shot in the heartland are more relatable because the people in those films are characters that you’ve come across or may come across in your real life. And that just drives the plot home! Such films are popular because a majority of Indians belong to, and come from, the heartlands and not the metros,” he says.
