Film Ties: Nigeria and India Explore Collaborative Opportunities

Nigerian film practitioners and the Indian High Commission in Nigeria have emphasized the potential for deeper collaboration in the film industry between the two nations. This consensus emerged during a collaborative film screening organized by the Kaduna International Film Festival (KADIFF) and the Indian High Commission in Abuja. The event featured the Nigerian film Kaka, which received the Best Indigenous Film Award at KADIFF 2024, alongside the Indian short film Rogan Josh, also showcased at the festival last August.

Highlighting the cultural and social parallels between Nigeria and India—such as their multilingual and multi-tribal populations, as well as shared family values and topography—Indian High Commissioner G. Balasubramanian noted that both countries rank as the first and second largest film producers globally.

He pointed to successful collaborations like Namaste Wahala and the Netflix series Postcards, produced by Indian filmmaker Hamish Daryani Ahuja, as proof of the promising partnership that can be cultivated.

Balasubramanian advocated for further film collaborations through joint productions, cultural exchanges between Nollywood and Bollywood professionals, location agreements for film shoots, and the promotion of Nigerian films on Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms targeted at Indian audiences.

As discussions continue between the ministries of culture in both nations to formalize joint film production initiatives, the High Commissioner encouraged Nigerian filmmakers to take advantage of existing opportunities provided by the Indian government to showcase Nollywood films in India.

Nigeria filmmakers, he said can leverage on the technological skills of Indian software designers in the area of special effects to engender software collaboration around film productions; in addition to exploring government sponsored film festivals, and government sponsored production opportunities.

Speaking at the event, veteran actor, Zach Orji, urged Nigerians not to wait on government, rather kickstart work as the Nollywood and Kannywood industries did, before government intervention.

“It is private initiative that has driven the industry before government came along to give loans to filmmakers. We definitely need government intervention, but we cannot wait for government to do everything. We should drive the initiative seeing how the Indian High Commission is receptive to this kind of collaboration. We should start, and eventually government participation and intervention will come later.”

The actor also urged other arms of the creative industry to toe-the-line of Nollywood, which prior to approaching institutions like foreign embassies bring much to the collaboration table.

“It depends on the initiative or what kind of action one is advocating. If it is in the area of film, a lot has been done. The writer has done his/her job, a lot things have taken place pre-and-post production. Simply put, private initiative should drive the creative industry, government then provides a more comfortable environment for initiators to continue what they have been doing on a larger scale,” Orji said.

Commending the Indian High Commission for the success of the event, founder KADIFF, Israel Audu Kashim said the collaborative event did not only create a platform for diverse voices to be heard but for creative expression and exhibition of both nations’ rich cultural heritage.

“Films help promote and protect our rich cultures. We thank the ambassador for joining us in this longlasting journey of collaboration for the arts and the creative industry.”