Locations in Europe: Paris, France
Storyline
Star(s): Ranveer Singh, Vaani Kapoor
Songs/Dance: The film has elaborately choregraphed song and dance sequences shot in several iconic locations of Paris. The songs have been mounted as high-budget production numbers that involved hiring of local dancers as well as dancers who were called in from other parts of Europe.
Indian/ International Crew: Local crew was hired for all the departments like the Art Departments, Camera, Costumes, Props, Casting Directors, Location Managers and Location Scouts, Location Runners, Make- up and Hair Department, Lighting Department, Electricity Department, Construction, Drivers and Transport Department, vocalists, and lyricists for French vocals in the soundtrack, musicians, and dancers. The only exceptions that were made were for the Sound department and the team of Assistant Directors.
Language: Hindi
Line Producer/Executive Producer Line Producers: Raphael Benoliel and Antonin Depardieu, Firstep. Production credited to Fredrique Charlotte Veret.
Director/Producer Director: Aditya Chopra; Produced by Yash Raj Films
Film Location Analysis
By Shikha Jhingan
The entire film was shot in France, including all the indoor sequences. The film opens with several couples in a lip locked kiss in several iconic locations of Paris. The city emerges as a place of erotic possibilities for heterosexual bodies. The film then moves on to Shyra and Dharam’s story which is spread over several of these locations that rupture the opening frame. Dharam and Shyra split up after living together with each other for one year.
The next sequence shows Shyra taking the tourists for a guided walk at the Pont des Arts (Love Lock bridge), telling them about the significance of the place. Shyra concludes by offering her cynical view that the most romantic city in the world had to acknowledge that it is difficult to bear the burden of love. This interesting shot frames Shyra with her back towards the camera with the tourists facing her and then does a 360-degree slow jib movement while we get a panoramic view of the entire iconic site, with other tourists clicking photographs, and a river cruise moving below on the Seine River. The moving shot ends by slowly moving towards Shyra as we see her emotionally drained by her breakup with Dharam.
The film then moves into a flashback, and we get to see Shyra and Dharam meeting each other for the first time at a daytime soiree at the base of Pont Alexandre III. The cheeky conversation between them is framed against the backdrop of a crowd of local young Parisians dancing to music with a DJ playing tracks. The sequences finally lead to the most popular song of the film – ‘Nashe Di Chad Gayi.’ Shyra and Dharam start dancing to the soundtrack of the song with a group of dancers forming a circle around them. The sequence choreographed by Vaibhavi Merchant was mounted by hiring professional dancers from various parts of France with several rehearsals as prep for the shoot. The song also shows several people as bystanders watching the performance. In the last section of the song, as the night falls, in a slow motion, we see the two protagonists moving away from the rest of the dancers and walking towards the bridge. The camera moves towards the two of them kissing each other and then frames the rest of the dancers at a distance from a high-angle shot. The next sequence shows them going to Dharam’s apartment for a one-night stand.
The title song of the film, ‘Ude Hum Befikre,’ shows the couple perform various juvenile acts in various parts of the city, including barging into a room of Westin Hotel to make out, Dharam running into the playing field at football match or intruding into a cabaret performance at the Lido.
After the breakup, several sequences in the film have been shot on the banks of the Seine River, evoking a darker mood of the city as the two protagonists are seen to have mellowed down and become more sensitive to their surroundings. In an interesting sequence, Dharam invites Shyra to meet him at Pont des Arts to celebrate one year of their breakup. They discuss where they should go to celebrate this breakup anniversary; several locations of the city are suggested and turned down. Finally, the two decide to drink beer on the bridge itself. This sequence repeats the 360-degree moving shot now framing Dharam as we see a panoramic view of the iconic sites of the city at night. The two decide to put a lock on the bridge to mark a permanent end to their relationship as lovers and throw the key into the river. The next sequence shows Dharam and Shyra spending time with each other as friends, unburdened by the weight of a romantic tie-up.
After Aney (Armaan Ralhan), an investment banker proposes to Shyra on top of the beautifully lit Eiffel Tower, Shyra asks Dharam to meet him at Place de Vosges in the Marais district. This night sequence evokes a sombre mood as Shyra and Dharam sit with their feet dipped in the water body with the fountain in the foreground. Shyra asks Dharam if she should get married, implying that she is scared of getting into a committed relationship because she may never become an ideal partner for anyone. The beautiful backdrop in this scene is dotted with fairy lights hung all around on the trees at the site. This sequence points towards the deep bond that the two share with each other.
The sequence at the end when the two decide to get back with each other and jump off the cliff overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, while locked in a lip lock was shot at Cannes. The crew had to avoid several helicopters that were flying in the area getting into the frame, as Cannes is an important tourist site for the elite who prefer to fly into the French riviera.
The end credit sequence of the film is shot in a typical Bollywood style choregraphed production number with several dancers lined up dancing in the background.
Additional Information & Links
The film benefitted from the Tax Credit for Foreign Film Production in France. Yash Raj Films were able to get a 30% discount by following certain conditions under the Indo-French Film collaboration rules.
Atout France, or the France Tourism Development Agency was involved in the Project.
The film also acknowledges the support of Picadre Film Commission, Consulate General of France in Mumbai, Ile De France Film Commission and Mission De la Villa De Paris.
The trailer of the film was launched at the Eiffel Tower in the presence of the lead stars and the Mayor of Paris.
Tourism
https://www.thelocal.fr/20161206/france-bets-on-bollywood-to-lure-indian-tourists/
https://mediaindia.eu/cinema/befikre-the-first-bollywood-film-shot-entirely-in-france/
