The Indians are the world's most fanatic film fans and they also adore the Swiss Alps! What better fun than to combine the two. Indian film studios in Bombay (affectionately referred to as "Bollywood") have recently been travelling to the foot of the Matterhorn to shoot their Indian films.

As political incidents rendered the Kashmir peaks inaccesible, Indian film crews and producers went searching for the perfect idyllic and romantic setting as a replacement. What better place than Switzerland?

Over sixty different Indian productions have been filmed in the Bernese Oberland in recent years and the result has been a intercultural "happening" of great success.

The clever Swiss soon realized the touristic potential and created special "Indian Villages" with all the comforts of home for the uppercrust Indian tourists wanting to soak up the atmosphere of the spot where stars like Govinda played out the affairs of their lives. All this, of course, without having to miss out on Tandoori Chicken!

© Tina Ruisinger (Photos),© Felix Ruhl (Text)

For the complete text please contact Felix Ruhl: F.Ruhl@balcab.ch