Movies have always been known to make the best of popular picturesque locations, but every once in a while, the reverse happens. A movie brings a hitherto unknown location in the limelight, making it famous overnight. This edition, Corporate Citizen brings you the best locations in India which owe their soaring popularity to cinema.
It's not only Manali that Indian filmmakers have picked a fancy for. In fact, there are a lot of geographical marvels in the periphery of Manali which have been finding a lot of screen space these days and one such place is Rohtang Pass. Located at a high altitude of about 51 kms from Manali, movies like Jab We Met, Dev D and Highway have immortalised the raw and snow clad stretches of Rohtang Pass on celluloid, making it the perfect choice for all biking enthusiasts. Haven't we all thought of biking on that stretch someday? Yes, we have!
Apart from great story-line, direction and acting, one thing that caught everyone's attention in Marathi superhit film Sairat is the rustic cinematography and mesmerizing locations ! One of the most visually striking locations in the movie is the octagonal step well in the Karmala village in Solapur in Maharashtra. After the movie, there has been an unstoppable throng of visitors to the well and Karmala has become a tourist hub, boosting the economy of the district.
A perfect hidden getaway, Doraha Fort or popularly called as the RDB fort got its moment of fame after a crucial scene from Rang De Basanti was shot here. Remember the epic scene where all the guys run in the field and jump up as the Indian Air Force jets zoom over them? Ever since then, the fort has become a favourite getaway for people to chill, take photographs and enjoy.
If you thought Kerala was only about its divine backwaters, Bollywood just proved you wrong. Picture Deepika Padukone running around in her Kanjeewaram silk saree and SRK chasing her in a tea plantation and you'll know what we're talking about. With more and more Bollywood films turning south for inspiration, India is finally waking up to the natural beauty Down South and Munnar Tea plantations have become the torch bearer. Showcased beautifully in Chennai Express, Nishabd and even in Life of Pi, Munnar is fast rising up as the new romantic destination of South India.
When someone talks about the movie Bobby, the first thing that comes to mind is the song 'Hum tum ek kamre mein band ho.' Did you know, the hut where this song was filmed is a part of Hotel Highlands Park in Gulmarg? Interestingly, this room numbered 305 became a tourist attraction post the release of the movie. In fact, Shah Rukh Khan stayed in the same room while shooting for Jab Tak Hai Jaan. No wonder then, a lot of honeymooners especially pre-book this room to kindle their romance.
BY NEERAJ VARTY
