How a Chinese movie became talking point as PM Modi met top film stars to discuss Mahatma Gandhi?

Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with Bollywood stars and other members of the film and entertainment industry on Saturday evening, the popularity of Indian movies and impact of Chinese movie "Dying to Survive" became a major talking point. 

PM's event was attended by actors like Aamir Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Kangana Ranaut and Sonam Kapoor; and director-producers like Rajkumar Hirani, Anand L Rai and Ekta Kapoor.

PM Modi, while interacting with film stars, recalled his interaction with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Mamallapuram and talk about the impact of "Dying to Survive" in which a Chinese man is able to smuggle low-cost affordable cancer medicines from India that are able to save lives of many people. The cheap Indian drugs were needed as western patented drugs were not affordable for many common Chinese.

The film was a hit at the Chinese box office garnering more than US $453 million and was among the top 3 hits of 2018 in the country. The movie is based on a real-life incident involving Yong Lu from Wuxi in Jiangsu province, eastern China who helped many Chinese patients get cheaper medicine for leukaemia from India.

The movie started a major debate in china on the need for low-cost life-saving cancer drugs with even the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang calling for the need to "further streamline the registration and approval of new anti-cancer drugs", Xinhua quoted him as saying.

China imports around US $25 billion worth of Pharma products of which a minuscule US $44 million are imported from India, which New Delhi hopes will change soon. India has been calling China to allow greater market access for Indian pharma products which can help narrow the US $55 billion trade deficit. A number of Indian pharma major such as Ranbaxy, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Aurobindo Pharma and Matrix Pharma are present in China.

Actor-producer Aamir Khan who interacted with PM at the event is hugely popular in China with his movie doing particularly well in the country. 

Indian Bollywood movies have been very popular in the country and are gaining more popularity in recent times. Many recent Bollywood movies like 'Three Idiots', 'Dangal', 'Secret Superstar', 'Bajrangi Bhaijan', 'Hindi Medium', 'Toilet – Ek Prem Katha' and 'Andhadhun' have been super hits at the Chinese box office. 

President Xi Jinping had highlighted to PM Modi the popularity of Indian films like 'Dangal' in China during the 2nd India-China informal summit held in Mamallapuram this month.

Both countries have an agreement for co-producing movies, first of which was on the life of monk Xuan Zang, who visited India in 6th century.