RAMU SEZ "YOU COMPLETE ME"

Ram Gopal Varma is the first mainstream Bollywood director (that I'm aware of) to have his movies completion bonded. He's turned to the Film Finances Company of HollywoodLand, USA to provide completion bonds for movies coming out of the RGV Film Factory.

What's the big deal? Well, in the past Bollywood filmmakers have complained about having to turn to *ahem* alternative sources to get investors in their films. Most international investors, and every single US investor (except for maybe some drunk dentists you round up on a cruise ship) insist on a film having a completion bond, which basically means that if the movie they invest in doesn't get finished then they get their investment back. Sometimes the completion bond company will even send in a director or producer of their own to salvage a project that's gone off the rails since, like most insurance companies, they'd rather not have to pay their policy holders if it's at all avoidable.

The completion bond company insists on a finalized script, a firm schedule, contracts, all that jazz. So, suddenly. RGV has moved into the big leagues where he's going to be accountable to the bond company on the bad side, but he'll be able to attract overseas investors on the good side.

This is big stuff and could represent the beginning of the end of cowboy filmmaking in India.

(More info on completion bonds)