India, China to co-produce documentary on 7th century traveller Hieun Tsang

The road to better ties between Delhi and Beijing is set to run through some cultural milestones and Bollywood — one of Indian diplomacy’s triumph cards.

The road to better ties between Delhi and Beijing is set to run through some cultural milestones and Bollywood — one of Indian diplomacy’s triumph cards. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chaperon a joint production agreement which will see China’s central television network and India’s Doordarshan jointly produce a documentary on the earliest Chinese travellers to India, including the legendary Hieun Tsang.

“The modalities of the actual documentary will have to be worked out. Right now, the co-production for it will be signed. We are yet to finalise anything of the actual content,” a senior official said.

Prasar Bharati chairperson Surya Prakash has accompanied PM Modi on his three-nation visit.

Last year, China was the focus country at International Film Festival of India, Goa. Closer cultural ties are aimed at doubling investments in the job-spinning entertainment sector.

Here’s the backstory behind the new foreign-relations soap opera: Mainland China is India’s second-largest film market, after the US. A co-production agreement with China was inked by the previous UPA government during the fag end of its tenure.

Chinese producers are also set to make the first Chinese film, Golden Truck, with a “Bollywood flavour”.