A large number of Saudis gave an enthusiastic reception to the Indian film “Om Shanti Om” screened as part of the 3rd Asian Film Festival at the Japanese consulate here on Friday. “The first Indian film I ever saw was “Slumdog Millionaire”, and since then my sister and I have grown very fond of Indian films. They are full of color, music and dance, and are very entertaining,” said Saudi businesswoman Amana Ismail. “I travel to India for business, as I import textile items, and I am very fond of the hospitality and way of doing business there,” she explained. Saudi filmmaker Mamdouh Salem, executive manager of Rawad Media, is also very impressed with Indian films and said that he wished that the Ministry of Culture and Information would give his company permission to cooperate with an Indian film production company to make a film on Saudi culture and traditions. “I went to India so I could learn more about Indian culture and Bollywood film production. If I get permission from the Ministry of Culture and Information, I will go to India to make films because filmmaking costs there are very reasonable,” said Salem. Khaled R. Al-Sayed, a Saudi writer, film critic and cultural correspondent, also said that Indian cinema is rich with culture and entertainment. “Films from India show us a country full of colors and cultural activities. I have been a fan of Indian cinema for years and have been watching Bollywood films since stars like Shammi Kapoor, Sunil Dutt, Raj Kapoor, Shrmila Tagore, and Mala Sinha were acting,” he said. “I am very fond of Indian films and travel a lot to India for my business. I think India is a country which has a depth of culture, and Indian films are a medium of that culture,” said businessman Jaweed O. Al
