Bulletin

Issue: October 2005

News

Bollywood on campus

Salaam Namaste, the largest Indian feature film shot in Australia, was partly filmed on location at La Trobe University's main Melbourne campus at Bundoora.

The film opened at the top of India's box office chart in September. It was also premiered in Melbourne for its Australian release.

Starring well known Bollywood actors, Preity Zinta and Saif Ali Khan, the film is expected ultimately to have an Indian audience of 300 million.

Melbourne-based Black Cat Films facilitated the Yash Raj production which was shot over three months in Melbourne from 1 March 2005. Actors and Indian-based film crews, numbering more than 55 people, spent five days on location at La Trobe.

One scene included a graduation ceremony involving La Trobe staff. Other scenes were shot in the Agora, Peribolos Gardens, lecture theatres and laboratories. A number of University staff members also worked as volunteers.

Yash Raj Films, the largest production and distribution company in India, produces up to six feature films each year. The director of Salaam Namaste, Mr Yash Chopra, is one of India's most respected and experienced directors, and has headed Yash Raj Films for over 35 years.