President Murmu Invites Slovakia to Collaborate on Joint Film Productions

President Droupadi Murmu emphasized the potential for enhanced collaboration in film production and the expanding media and entertainment sector between Bratislava, India, and Slovakia.

Slovakia President Peter Pellegrini with India's President Droupadi Murmu | Image: X/@rashtrapatibhvn

During her meeting with Slovak President Peter Pellegrini on Wednesday, as part of her two-day State Visit, Murmu extended an invitation to Slovakia to participate in the upcoming WAVE Summit in Mumbai, scheduled from May 1 to 4.

She also highlighted the importance of promoting Slovakia as a filming destination and a valuable partner in joint film production, according to a statement from Rashtrapati Bhavan.

“She highlighted the immense potential for the two countries to collaborate more closely in the rapidly expanding media, entertainment and creative economy sectors of India, including promotion of Slovakia as a filming destination and a partner in joint film production,” the statement said.

Slovakia has long been a popular destination for Hollywood producers, but it was only in 2019 that the Indian film industry set its sights on the High Tatra mountains, when the Amitabh Bachchan starrer Chehre was filmed there.

President Murmu arrived in Slovakia for the final leg of her two-nation visit to Portugal and the Slovak Republic. She was accompanied by a delegation that included Minister of State Nimuben Bambhaniya, Members of Parliament Dhaval Patel and Sandhya Ray, along with senior officials.

Upon arrival, she received a traditional Slovak welcome, greeted with bread and salt by a couple in folk attire, and was honored with a ceremonial Guard of Honour.

During her visit, President Murmu engaged in discussions with President Pellegrini, addressing various aspects of bilateral relations and shared global and regional concerns, as stated in the official release.

She also engaged in discussions with Prime Minister Robert Fico. “India greatly values our traditionally close and friendly ties with the Slovak Republic, based on shared values of democracy, rule of law and convergence of views on global issues,” she told Fico.

The two leaders agreed to enhance and further diversify their bilateral relations across all areas of mutual interest, according to the statement.

President Murmu later paid tribute by laying a wreath at the Gate of Freedom Memorial, situated at the confluence of the Morava and Danube rivers beneath Devin Castle, right on the border with Austria.

The bullet-marked concrete gate commemorates 400 individuals who were killed while attempting to flee Czechoslovakia's heavily fortified border between 1945 and 1989 during the Cold War.

Barbed-wire fences, electrified barriers, and the Iron Curtain restricted movement from Soviet satellite states to the West, with escape attempts met with imprisonment or death.

In the evening, President Pellegrini hosted an elaborate State Banquet in honor of President Murmu.

(This Article was originally published by Hindustan Times)