´Bollywood films confined to TV sets in Israel´

- Zafri Mudasser Nofil           Let us know what you think about this story

"Bollywood films are not shown in multiplexes nowadays. People can see them only on cable television now," says Eran Riklis, whose films 'Lemon Tree' and 'Syrian Bride' are being shown at the ongoing Osian's Cinefan festival here.

He said the number of conventional cinema halls is on the decline in Israel.

"A number of multiplexes have come up with all the facilities," Riklis, who grew up in the US, learnt cinema in the UK and worked in Israel, told PTI.

He says Israeli cinema is growing in a big way. "Many good things are happening in Israeli cinema." "Government-wise, it is not difficult to make a film in Israel. All my films had government support," he says.

According to him, showing films in another country is always a challenge but the response in India has been amazing.

"I like to make films that are universal. I come from a democratic notion of film making," he says.

Both 'Lemon Tree' and 'Syrian Bride' talk about borders and deal with highly emotional, physical as well as mental situations.

"'Lemon Tree' was based on an idea I got from the Internet. The story was there. The metaphor was there. I even did not do much research," he says.

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