Brand Bollywood...downunder

When most people think about Australia, they picture massive sandy beaches, singlet-clad locals drinking beer, and kangaroos bounding through the dusty red outback. Saris, musical numbers, and masala are the furthest from anyone's mind - unless of course, you're one of the millions of Bollywood fans from around the world. It was in the late 1990's that the outrageous, colourful, and musical Bollywood crews first descended on the Australian landscape and fascinated locals around the country. More than just novel new entertainment, Bollywood brought serious money to Australian shores, and the industry quickly became a darling of the tourism, trade, and educational bodies. Beneath the glitz and glamour is a roller coaster tale of normally dry politicians bending over backwards to try and lure the industry to Australia - from announcing considerable film subsidies to Premiers performing cameos in dance sequences. Brought to you by a cross-cultural film team widely credited as a major influence on the growth of ties between the Australian and Indian film industries, this feature-length documentary provides a rare insiders view of the brass, arse, and farce of Bollywood's inner workings on a global scale. The film is a celebration of Bollywood cinema and its expansion as a global entertainment giant. In a sometimes hilarious clash of filmmaking cultures, we explore the successes and failures of Bollywood's rise as a serious subculture in Australia, and around the world. See past the myths and legends that surround the industry and witness the Bollywood reality - something far more entertaining than any fictional tale.