At the Regional Control Center, a delegation from the Murmansk Region met with representatives of the Indian film industry, led by film producer and director Nila Madhab Panda. The main topic of discussion was the filming of a musical romantic comedy on the Kola Peninsula. The feature-length film is scheduled to begin shooting in the fall of 2026.
Nila Madhab Panda presented detailed information about the project and asked regional authorities to support its implementation, facilitating familiarization with local culture and assisting in the selection of suitable filming locations.
Timur Davletshin, First Deputy Minister of Culture of the Murmansk Region, spoke about measures to support the film industry in the region. Svetlana Soldatova, Head of the Film Production Development Center, shared with her Indian colleagues information on the opportunities and conditions for receiving rebates—subsidies from the regional budget for film production in the Murmansk Region.
The Indian delegation also included Kalrav Mishra, Commercial Consul of the Consulate General of India in St. Petersburg, and filmmakers Rajiv Gupta and Himanshu Kishan Mehra. The guests praised the unique and captivating natural beauty of the Kola Arctic, particularly highlighting the Northern Lights. The region's tourism potential is planned to be featured prominently in a future film and presented to international audiences.
The parties also discussed organizational matters, including visa procedures for the Indian film crew, logistics, and necessary administrative permits, and outlined immediate plans for the project.
As a reminder, the Murmansk Region is among Russia's leaders in film production development. Filming volumes have increased more than ninefold. In 2025, more than 38 film projects were filmed in the region. Thanks to the systematic work of the Film Production Development Center and the expansion of its location database with unique sites, the Kola Arctic is becoming even more attractive to the country's leading film studios and international partners. Supporting creative industries, including film production, is one of the key objectives of the "Live in the North!" plan.
/ Ministry of Arctic Development and Economy of the Murmansk Region /
