Mumbai, India — In a historic move to strengthen ties between two of the world’s largest film industries, India is set to dub Nigerian films into major Indian languages, opening new doors for Nollywood in the vast Indian entertainment market.
The initiative was announced ahead of the inaugural World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES), scheduled for May in Mumbai. As part of preparations, Shri Prithul Kumar, Joint Secretary of the Government of India and Director General of the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), visited Nigeria to engage with key stakeholders in the creative industry.
Speaking at an interactive session at the **Indian High Commission in Abuja**, Kumar praised Nigeria’s growing influence in the global entertainment landscape and encouraged industry leaders to seize the opportunities WAVES will provide.
“Nigeria is a creative powerhouse,” Kumar remarked. “This summit will serve as a platform for filmmakers, producers, and investors to collaborate, trade content, and establish global distribution networks.”
Bollywood Meets Nollywood: Expanding the Market
One of the most groundbreaking aspects of Kumar’s proposal is the dubbing of Nollywood films into Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, ensuring broader accessibility for Indian audiences.
“The best Nigerian films should be dubbed and showcased at WAVES or screened in cinemas across India,” Kumar suggested. “Just as Korean and Japanese content have gained popularity in India, Nollywood has the potential to captivate our audience as well.”
This initiative could mark a major milestone in the relationship between Bollywood and Nollywood, unlocking new revenue streams and global visibility for Nigerian films.
A Game-Changer for Nollywood
Responding to the proposal, Mr. Obi Asika, Director General of Nigeria’s National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), acknowledged the immense potential WAVES holds for Nollywood.
“This could be a game-changer, helping Nigerian films break into untapped markets like India,” Asika stated. He also emphasized the importance of learning from India’s structured entertainment sector while leveraging private-sector investment to fuel Nollywood’s growth.
“We need industry leaders like MultiChoice, Filmhouse, Chocolate City, and Mavin Records to spearhead collaborations with India,” he added.
The Abuja gathering also attracted prominent figures from Nigeria’s media landscape, including Dr. Mohammed Bulama, Director General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), who hailed the initiative as a strategic move to expand Nigeria’s cultural and economic influence on a global scale.
With WAVES set to become an annual event, Nigerian filmmakers now have a unique opportunity to forge lasting partnerships, expand distribution networks, and elevate Nollywood’s status on the world stage.
By Taiwo Olatinwo | March 8, 2025
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