With the rising popularity of Indian films in China, Indian film directors, critics and a Chinese embassy official in New Delhi called for cooperation between the two countries in the movie sector.

They noted that Indian films have a profound impact on Chinese audiences, adding films can foster a beautiful understanding between the two neighbors.

“Indian movies have a special appeal to Chinese audiences because of similar cultural values. Humanistic care and profound feelings transcend borders. China and India can strengthen cooperation in the movie sector and promote mutual understanding between the two peoples,” said a statement obtained by China Daily from the Chinese embassy official in New Delhi.

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“Indian movies have sparked several waves of fever in China. (Among Indian movies) Dangal tops the Chinese box office, earning nearly 1.3 billion yuan ($178.3 million). Tamil film Maharaja has made a record-breaking debut in China,” the statement added.

Tamil action thriller Maharaja, starring Vijay Sethupathi, was released in Chinese cinemas in November.

Last week, sharing a post of the film featuring the cast, Yu Jing, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in India, wrote on X, “Maharaja has become the highest-grossing Indian film in China since 2018, reaching (rupees) 91.55 crore ($10.6 million). Well done.”

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Recently, Indian films with romantic or social themes have become more popular in China and have found a lucrative market niche.

Maharaja, an action thriller directed by Nithilan Saminathan and featuring Vijay Sethupathi as its lead actor, collected around 13.37 million yuan at the box office on the opening day in November, in China, according to cinema ticket sales portal Maoyan.

Ahead of its release, the film scored a high rating of 8.7/10 on the Chinese movie review site Douban and is regarded as "one of the highest-rated Indian films in recent years".

The movie is expected to rank among the top 10 Indian films in China in terms of box office receipts.

Earlier, popular Indian actor Aamir Khan's Hindi films registered significant success at the box office in China. His film Dangal, released in 2016, a biographical sports drama based on the struggle of two women wrestlers and their father-cum-coach, 3 Idiots and PK were hugely successful in the country.

Dangal is ranked among the 20 top-grossing foreign films in China. In recent years, Hindi films Bajrangi Bhaijaan, (2015), Secret Superstar (2017) and Andhadhun (2018) also scored tremendous success at the Chinese box office.

“Indian films resonate with Chinese audiences because they blend universal themes with emotionally rich narratives. Films like Dangal and Bajrangi Bhaijaan focus on family bonds, personal struggles, and social issues – topics that strongly resonate in China, where family values and social narratives hold deep cultural significance,” said Hong Yanyan, a doctoral scholar at The University of Adelaide in Australia.

Hong has studied the popularity of Indian films in China. The way Indian films portray everyday challenges, combined with heartfelt performances and engaging music, make them uniquely appealing, said Hong.

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She believes that Aamir Khan has played a major role in building a cultural bridge between the two countries. His socially conscious and inspiring roles earned him an unprecedented following in China.

“Honestly, I’d say more people in China know Aamir Khan than … India's prime minister…,” she said.

As a Chinese researcher and an Indian cinema aficionado, Hong has watched over 1,500 Indian films in the past 15 years.

According to Hong, Indian cinema has provided an extraordinary gateway for understanding the country’s culture, values and people. Since films provide a window into everyday life, emotions, and traditions, it becomes a perfect medium to connect the people of two nations.

“One can’t imagine how much mutual understanding could grow if Indian films were more accessible in China and Chinese films were more widely shared in India,” she said.

“Although India and China share deep historical and cultural ties, we don’t know each other well enough. To bridge this gap, we should focus on joint film productions, cultural exchanges, and promote each other’s films through festivals and collaborations,” Hong suggested.

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Acclaimed Indian film director Goutam Ghose said filmmakers from both countries can make some wonderful projects jointly and it will enrich bilateral relations.

“There are many beautiful stories from both sides. Stories from history, stories from today’s time can connect India and China so well. Coproduction can be an interesting scope for the young generation in bringing new vision and new perception between two countries,” Ghose said.

Relations between India and China are thousands of years old. New generations are forgetting rich historical and cultural ties. Films can bridge the gap and can strengthen bilateral ties. Films have the power to create a beautiful understanding between the two countries, he said.

Ghose’s two films, Raahgir and Moner Manush, were screened at the Shanghai International Film Festival in 2020.  

To promote the exchange and cooperation of films between China and India, and to deeply cultivate each other's markets, it is necessary to have a deep understanding of each other's cultural traditions, social trends, and audience’s aesthetic preferences, and then "cater to their preferences", said Fu Xiaoyin, a professor from the School of Film and Television of Hebei University of Science and Technology, China.

The films Awara, Do Bigha Zamin were the first Indian feature films to be showcased in Beijing, Shanghai and other Chinese cities in 1955, according to Indian film historians.