Algerians love Bollywood

Sujit Chatterjee in Algiers

Algerians might not up-to-date about the economic and scientific strides made by India, but the sure know Bollywood and stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, Shashi Kapoor, Hema Malini and Madhuri Dixit.

Hindi films are quite a passion in this Mediterranean port city. In fact, the Arabic and French-speaking youngsters have picked up the language just by watching Hindi films!

"It is my dream to visit India and meet the cinestars. I have been watching Indian films right from my childhood. I can even speak Hindi now," says Boutaleb Athmane Ahmed, a 31-year-old small-time businessman.

He even sang Kishore Kumar's number, Meet na mila re man ka from the film Abhimaan.

Ahmed feelings were echoed by Redduane Quaet, 30, who maintained that Rajesh Khanna was his favourite hero.

Indian films are now back in the news in Algiers with External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh inagurating the Indian Film Week last night at the packed Palais de Culture here with the screening of Dilwale Dulhania le Jayenge.

On a three-day visit to the country, Singh said that he hoped such programmes would strengthen the ties between the two countries.

PTI