Locations in Europe: Georgia
Storyline
Star(s): Ajith Kumar, Parvathy Omanakuttan, Bruna Abdullah
Action Sequences: Shot in Georgia.
Indian/ International Crew: Indian and international.
Language: Tamil
Executive Producer/Line Producer Executive Producers: Suresh Balaje, Gaurav Bose, George Pius Line Producers: Sanjay Bector (Georgia), K. Raj Narayan, C. Premnath
Director/Producer Director: Chakri Toleti Producers: Sunir Kheterpal, Suresh Balaje
Film Location Analysis
By Veena Hariharan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQzH5D0vi5g
Time code: 54:43 to 56:54
Background:
In the third week of November, after almost nine months of negotiations, a unit of 36 members left for Georgia in Eastern Europe for the final 20-day schedule of the film. In Georgia, the crew filmed at the country's capital Tbilisi, Borjomi, and Rustavi. Billa 2 became the first Indian film to be shot at the Likani Palace, which functions as a summer retreat of the President of Georgia. Midway through the filming, heavy snowfall began. The crew, however, carried on shooting and later reshot the complete sequence with the snowy background to maintain continuity. The climax scenes were also filmed there against a snowy backdrop, for which aerial shots were taken with a helicopter. Approximately half a million dollars were spent for the entire shooting schedule in Georgia. Sunir Kheterpal, producer, says, that his film sparked interest in Georgia as a filming location for other film crews as well. A production unit member of Billa 2 noted: “It was one hell of an experience for the entire cast crew to shoot in sub-zero temperatures. But it was fun and though it was very difficult to shoot as it snowed, the snow added to the entire look of the film, and it will look fabulous on screen.”
In the film, David Billa, a Sri Lankan refugee, comes to Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu where his journey into crime begins. He begins as a local diamond smuggler and eventually meets Abbasi (Sudhanshu Pandey), an underworld don, in Goa and wins his favour when he helps him out. On one such mission for Abbasi, Billa goes to Georgia where he meets a ruthless international don Demitri (Vidyut Jammwal). They get acquainted leading to a drift between Abbasi and Billa. As a challenge to Abbasi, Billa now starts building his own underworld empire which eventually results in his taking on the kingpin Demitri himself. Thus, the battle that begins in Goa ends in Georgia.
Most scenes featuring Demitri are shot against the background of his magnificent abode, fit for an international don—the Likani Palace. [During the Soviet era, the Likani residence became the property of the state, and was frequented by key Soviet officials, including Joseph Stalin. Today, the palace functions as a summer residence of the President. The rest of the Likani recreational complex, including a Soviet-era sanatorium, was purchased, in April 2006, by the state-owned KazMunayGas, which promised to develop the area into an international tourism centre.]
While there are other scenes featuring encounters between Billa and Demetri, this scene is focused on highlighting the villain Demetri—a model, kalarippayattu (martial arts) trained stunt performer. In this scene, he is shot with all the glamour and larger-than-life-ness reserved for a star. The scene opens with a medium shot revealing the imposing Moorish architecture of Likani Palace with snow-covered coniferous trees in a sprawling field of snow in the foreground. Three black sedans of a security force pull up here. A security officer, dressed in black, and armed with an impressive gun, jumps out of his car and rushes to open the door of the black sedan parked ahead. A close low-angle shot of a door opening cuts to reveal a head shot of the stylish villain Demetri, who emerges from the sedan in a long black coat and snow goggles. He is accompanied by two security guards and a foreign woman who looks like she could be the gangster’s moll (also dressed in black). They are framed in medium and close shots against the snowy background and the sculpted water fountain. As they walk up the imposing steps of the palace, with the fountain in the background, the camera moves to a higher angle to capture the imposing sculptured pillars and the snow field of conifers in long shot. He speaks in the local language (Georgian) asking his moll to go wait, promising her that he will join later. Meanwhile, a group of seven locals are seen waiting for him in the porch; they are seated around a table and seem to be engaged in serious discussion. On seeing Demetri, one of them rises to say that the deal is off. Demetri shrugs his shoulders saying he will find someone else and walks away only to hear the word “idiot” being hurled at him from behind his back. Demetri turns around angrily and confronts the man who has just spoken. When the man pulls out a weapon at Demetri, all hell breaks loose, and Demetri savagely retaliates in a series of stylish stunt actions including some skilled footwork as he impales them to the ground. The sequence alternates between medium and close shots against the snowy background, and stone façades of the palace, including a close shot of Demetri sticking a dagger into his interlocutor. The final shot in the sequence is an aerial shot that reveals the scale of the massacre as seven dead men lay impaled on the stone porchway while Demetri walks away casually. All the time, the camera never loses sight of the beautiful snow backdrop as the colour scheme of grey, black, and white predominate the sequence. The stunt sequences in Georgia were partly choreographed by an award-winning German-based company led by stuntman Stefan Richter, and the rich background score is by Yuva Shankar Raja.
Additional Information & Links
Choice of Georgia as a Location
Mr. Roop Naik, one of the film producers for Billa 2, said: “We were considering many countries to film Billa 2. At that time, we were invited to visit Georgia by the Georgian National Investment Agency. In September we visited Georgia and were given all help in identifying locations and also in sourcing equipment, casting agencies etc. We were happy with all the help and encouragement given and therefore decided to come here to film. Our budget for the shooting of Billa 2 in Georgia is around half million dollars.” In fact, the support from the Georgian Government has been one of the decisive factors for choosing Georgia. An incentive package that includes tax rebates and visa on arrival has been developed, according to Georgian National Film Centre Deputy Director Salome Sepashvili.
Georgia’s interest in attracting India’s film industry, one of the world’s largest, started during the filming of Five Days of War (also known as Five Days of August), Hollywood director Renny Harlin’s 2011 saga about the 2008 Russia-Georgia conflict. The $20 million Five Days may have bombed at the box office, but it left a lasting impression in Tbilisi about foreign films’ ability to bring investment to Georgia’s film industry, which flourished in Soviet times and was now flagging. Development of its own film industry is one of the priorities for Georgia. In order to attract investments, the Georgian National Investment Agency has started cooperation with the leading producing companies in a number of countries and India is on top of the list.
Films from Bollywood, the Mumbai-based epicentre of India’s film industry, are known for mega-million-dollar investments and dedicated fans who travel to movie settings. Keti Bochorishvili, the former Georgian National Investment Agency director who spearheaded Georgia’s courtship with Indian filmmakers, predicted that the films will have an eventual “pulling effect” on bigger-budget productions. (Bochorishvili now serves as Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development). At the same time, Indian film producers are always on the lookout to reduce their rates of production, especially as most of the budget is reserved for the big stars.
This is a mutually beneficial arrangement as filming in Georgia also supports the Georgian economy. Entrance of international film production and distribution companies helps to popularise the country and to develop tourism in Georgia as the films amplify awareness about Georgia through the massive reach of Indian cinema.
Their appearance in the country revitalises many associated spheres. For example, during the shooting of Billa 2, Likani and adjacent hotels were all packed. Numerous companies were involved in the shooting process, including the studio Metro, which provided the equipment for the shooting. Government bodies like Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia, Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs of Georgia, Georgian Parliament, Tbilisi City Hall, have been highly supportive when being addressed with concrete requests by producers.
The entrance of Indian film productions into the Georgian market creates serious financial and professional stimulus for the development of the flagging Georgian movie industry too. Georgian film crew gained experience and financial resources to assist with the development of movie production in Georgia. Even though the fantasy structure of Indian movies, especially its song and dance, and spectacular stunts staged in foreign locales, is a far cry from Georgia’s own cinematic traditions, anchored in historical dramas and documentary-style realism.
One of the spin-offs of Billa 2 was that local Georgian company Bravo Records provided media coverage for the film in Georgia. One of the soundtracks for the movie “Every Time I See You” was recorded by the Georgian singer Sofia Bedia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvG7YbbYwKc
Apart from these economic incentives and low production costs, the South Caucasus country of Georgia promised to be the perfect location for Indian film directors from the perspective of its scenic beauty and picturesque locales of mountains, seas, caves and castles, and romantic vistas.
According to Archil Menagharishvili, Member of the Board Directors, Georgian Film: “Georgia is attractive for “Bollywood” with the variety of landscapes and different climate zones within a short distance. Among our advantages are technical base, qualified personnel, and preferential conditions for filming.”
Some of the country’s disadvantages as a film location were noted by a few directors: The famed Vardzia caves, for example, are part of a Georgian Orthodox monastery where filming is prohibited. And while working in Georgia initially appeared to be much cheaper than in Brazil or the US, 18 percent value-added taxes, 20 percent income taxes, a limited local talent pool, and the need to transport equipment from India amounted to only a 10 percent savings in production costs.
Promos of the film:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNx-2R0hJxk
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x29nttv
Promos:
