With women empowerment as a topic close to her heart, Chandra has planned to set up an all-women team of technicians that can be instrumental in leading the way in a male-dominated industry.
Indian actress Nitu Chandra Srivastava has launched her film production house, Champaran Talkies Studios FZ LLC, in Abu Dhabi.
The initiative is a tribute to Gandhiji who began his Satyagraha, a non-violent form of resistance, in Champaran but also to Chandra’s native Indian roots that have played a major role in establishing herself as a successful actor and producer.
Having come from a middle-class family with no film background, Chandra fought her way through different Indian film industries to make her mark as an actor. Champaran Talkies was Chandra’s way of giving back to the film industry and the people of India. She launched Champaran Talkies in Mumbai, India, in 2010 along with her brother Nitin Chandra, a writer and director, with a vision to bring quality cinema to the Indian audience. Together, they wanted to change the negative image of movies that came from Bihar, Chandra’s hometown.
This vision became a reality when Champaran Talkies became the first production house to get the one and only National Award in the language of Maithili in India. Since then, Champaran Talkies has produced several documentaries and fiction movies.
Champaran Talkies Studios FZ LLC in Abu Dhabi is an extension of the production house in Mumbai. The sole aim of the studio in Abu Dhabi is to produce international movies that appeal to a global audience. To achieve this, Chandra plans to set up an all-women team of above-the-line talented technicians who can be instrumental in producing quality content and pave the way for women in a male-dominated industry.
Speaking about the production house, Nitu Chandra Srivastava, Director, Champaran Talkies Studios FZ LLC, said: “Empowering women and recognising their value is the best thing we can do to uplift society. With this all-women team at Champaran Talkies Studios, I aim to provide better access for women in the field of movie making and production. I believe that I can find the right talent from different ethnicities for my projects owing to UAE’s international integration and presence of 200+ nationalities in one space. I am grateful to the Abu Dhabi Film Commission, Abhitanshu Khare, my attorney from London, as well as Abdulhamid Al Balooshi from A. Albalooshi Advocates and Legal Consultants, who have been instrumental in establishing my studios here in UAE.”
Hans Fraikin, Abu Dhabi Film & TV Commissioner, added: “We are delighted to welcome Hollywood Actor and award-winning producer Nitu Chandra Srivastava to Abu Dhabi, UAE. Champaran talkies Studios is a one-of-a-kind all-women production house that plans to create ground-breaking and inspiring international productions, and we are extremely happy to support Nitu in this unique venture. It is also befitting that we are announcing this association on the momentous occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary. We believe that this partnership will create international opportunities for women globally in Abu Dhabi.”
Champaran Talkies Studios is already in talks with scriptwriters from different parts of the world and will soon be finalising the projects.
