I am a master in India

Chapter 147 Preparing for the Film
"You want us to film in your hometown, Uttar Pradesh?"

"Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state in India, with a strong religious atmosphere, and is a place of outstanding people and resources."

After taking a shower, Ron is now in a state of clarity, his mind is sharp and his thoughts are clear.

Uttar Pradesh is remote and underdeveloped enough to be an ideal market for religious films.

There's no need to worry about film censorship; that's his hometown, his stronghold.

“It’s far from Mumbai, and I’ve heard that the countryside in India is dangerous,” Lena said worriedly.

“Darling, of course I won’t leave you there alone. I’ll go with you,” Ron said, patting her shoulder reassuringly.

"Are you going to Uttar Pradesh too? Is Mumbai alright?" Mary knew he had always been concerned about Suer Electric Appliances.

"The rainy season is coming, and business in Mumbai will be in a slump. I'm planning to go to Uttar Pradesh to take a look, and if it's suitable, I'll build a branch of Suer Electric Appliances there."

Mumbai's rainy season lasts three to four months, which affects both tourism companies and the sales of water-cooled air conditioners.

He can take advantage of this time to go back home, work at the factory, film a movie, and visit relatives—killing three birds with one stone.

“That’s a good plan,” Mary nodded in agreement.

"Yay! I love traveling!" Lena cheered.

"I plan to leave in late June. You all need to hurry up and prepare for the movie during this time."

“Oh, speaking of which,” Mary rolled over and grabbed the photo album from the bedside table, “I need to choose my male and female leads.”

"Has anyone been chosen?" Ron asked.

"I prefer Urmila Madonka for the lead role. We've met a few times in Bollywood and had a good chat."

Ron glanced at the photo; he didn't recognize her, but she was very pretty.

“He looks very young. Judging from his skin color, he should be a local from Mabang, and from a high caste.”

“She’s only 19 years old and started as a child star. Her father is a teacher, and the whole family lives in Mumbai,” Mary introduced enthusiastically.

"It sounds like a good offer, but would she be willing to star in our film? Don't forget, it's a religious film, and it also has some adult elements."

“She just appeared in a thriller, but only as a supporting character. She’ll be the lead here, and we can use a body double for the sensitive scenes. Most importantly, she’s a Hindu.”

"Wow, it seems you've been planning this for a long time." Ron guessed she must have been plotting for a long time.

“I’m not sure about the male lead yet,” Mary said, flipping through the photo album she’d swiped from old Lars.

"Don't be too anxious. After all, we haven't even finalized the script yet. The roles are there to serve the script."

“Didn’t you say you’d made plans with a few screenwriters?” Lena suggested from the side. “Maybe we should meet with them.”

Ron and Mary exchanged a glance and nodded. "You're right."

Vikram was a relatively unknown freelance writer, and the screenwriters he introduced were even less famous than him; they were all unknowns.

The most experienced one had written a horror movie script, which was produced, but it didn't make much of a splash at the box office.

The rest are more accurately described as one of the many hard-working people in Bollywood than screenwriters.

Ron and Mary's agency is located in the Juhoo district. They rent a yard with a gate and a two-story building.

They met with the screenwriters here, and to be honest, they weren't very satisfied with any of them. But one screenwriter pleaded with Ron to give him a chance to act out his script on the spot.

His name is Ravi, he is from Punjab, and he dreams of becoming a Bollywood screenwriter.

Ron, with a nonchalant attitude, agreed to his request.

Ravi tossed the script aside and began to gather his emotions; he knew his own story well.

Therefore, when emotions need to be stirred, they laugh loudly or cry bitterly, and in martial arts scenes, they punch, kick, jump, and move around.

"Kana was running, he ran and then he fell down, rolled over on the ground, but he was still caught."

Ravi ran and shouted in front of Ron and the others, then fell straight down, rolled over, and lay limp.

Ron couldn't help but laugh at this scene. Bollywood screenwriters really go all out; they often have immense passion for their stories.

Mary and Lena didn't laugh; they admired Ravi's passion for film.

"Is the story you wrote about the myth of the Mother of Difficulty?" Mary asked.

"Yes, madam, this is a story of the Mother Spirit appearing and overcoming evil!"

Ravi vividly recounts how, with the help of the incarnation of the Difficult Mother, the rural bride miraculously defeated the villains, overcame numerous obstacles, and finally lived happily ever after with her husband.

Durga is a principal goddess in Hinduism. She is considered one of the two fierce incarnations of Parvati, the wife of Shiva. She is martial and worshipped as a demon-quelling goddess.

Legend has it that she had nine incarnations, one of which was a vegetarian, hence the Hindu tradition of vegetarianism.

During a long drought, this incarnation of Dignitary came to earth. Her tears nourished the parched land, irrigated the vegetable crops, and saved people from the suffering of famine.

She has a considerable following among Hindus and is one of the main characters in mythology.

Ravi's choice of her as the subject of the film is actually a good one, because even many herders believe in Dignitary Mother.

After hearing the story, Mary and Lena were very interested, as it perfectly matched their initial expectations.

Films with female-centric themes are easier to control, while male-centric films require much more assertiveness, and Bollywood male actors may not necessarily follow their orders.

“You can keep the script. We’ll discuss it with the director and then let you know,” Mary decided. “Sir, Madam, it’s my pleasure!” Ravi was overjoyed, as if he were dreaming.

He landed his dream job and became one of Bollywood's biggest filmmakers.

Sure enough, Durga appeared to him, and his prayers were answered.

In Bollywood, this kind of answer usually means that your script has been selected and filming is just a matter of time.

After Ravi left in high spirits, Ron turned to Mary and asked.

"You like this script?"

“Of course, this story is cool, and I want to be the producer myself.” Mary is very dedicated to this project.

"It would be best to find a local producer who can act as a religious advisor to prevent us from breaking any taboos during filming."

“That’s right, and the director too, we should show him the script as well.”

Ron has been relatively free lately. The Suer Electric Factory is back on track, but the tourism business isn't doing much, so Nia can keep an eye on things.

Luca also took Anand and Rajiv to Brazil, where they transported a large ship full of goods – a big deal.

With his business in Mumbai running smoothly, he devoted himself entirely to the preparation of the film.

He wasn't just dabbling in Bollywood. If he did it well, he could make a fortune.

India's industrial conditions are hopeless, and it's hard to say how far his Suer Electric can go.

Technology and Indians are completely incompatible; even if they have top talent, their final destination is to immigrate to the United States.

Petrochemicals, steel, and transportation are traditional industries that are dominated by a few large families, making it difficult for outsiders to get a share.

As a newcomer, Ron had to find a way out from other places.

The 90s was a golden period of development for most countries in the world, during which many thriving new industries emerged.

The entertainment industry is one example; it has low barriers to entry, a wide audience, and quick profits.

After slightly adjusting his work focus, Ron and Mary immediately arranged to meet with Shiv Kumar.

Shiv Kumar is a Bihari national and a devout religious man. He vowed to abstain from alcohol and meat, yet he "willingly degenerated" and made several adult films, which were surprisingly successful at the box office.

As a Bihari, it's not easy to make a living in Bollywood.

If we were to ask which group among the tens of millions of people in Mumbai is most despised, it would undoubtedly be the Bihars.

"The Bihars are all thieves." This is a common saying known throughout India.

They are synonymous with rural migrant workers, poor young men, and thieves.

Ron had heard people around him argue that if Mumbai could expel all the Bihar immigrants, it would surely become as prosperous as the island nation of Singapore.

The Bihars shamelessly came to Mumbai seeking survival. Wherever they went, their infamy followed them like the mark of Cain.

Mumbai and Bihar represent two extremes of modern India, with the former representing well-being and the latter representing disaster.

After playing a match in Bihar, Indian national cricket captain Azharuddin discovered his cricket cap had been stolen and said the exact same thing: "The people of Bihar are all thieves."

Given this prejudice, it's easy to imagine what Schiff Kumar's experience was like in Bollywood.

He couldn't get any good directing jobs and could only make low-budget films.

"Most Bihari people are illiterate. Our literacy rate is less than 20 percent, which is 20 percent lower than the average literacy rate in Indian states."

An illiterate young man from Bihar went to the city to work. He was an honest man, but he couldn't find a job and had to wander around.

If someone takes pity on him and gives him a bite to eat, that person is a great benefactor to him.

But there's no such thing as a free lunch; you have to repay the favors you receive.

If this person is a bad person with impure motives, such as a smuggler, they will inevitably lead you down a path of crime.

If you receive a favor and refuse to repay it, or even flee from a thief's den, then naturally the bad guy will cry foul and complain. That's how the Bihar people earned their bad reputation!

Upon meeting and after two beers, Shiv Kumar began complaining about the prejudice Indians held against Pihars.

He was a high-caste Kshatriya, and yet this was the case. One can only imagine how much more so the Shudras and Dalits were affected.

“Director Ral admires you very much,” Ron reassured him.

“He’s a good man, and you’re a good man too, Dr. Sue.” Schiff slammed down his glass. “Is this another adult film? Where’s the script?”

Mary handed him the script she had prepared earlier, which she had Ravi polished over the past two days.

"A religious film! I like this!" Schiff was somewhat surprised; in his mind, low-budget films were also divided into different grades.

Adult films are the worst, horror films are in the middle, and religious films are the best.

“Uh, we’d like to add a bit of an adult element,” Ron explained.

“Of course, I would have done it even if you hadn’t told me.” Schiff held the script with obvious delight.

“We’ve got the female lead in mind, do you have any recommendations for the male lead?” Mary asked.

“I don’t have it, but I know who does.” Schiff immediately pulled them along, wanting to visit a Bollywood know-it-all.

(End of this chapter)