Tallinn’s medieval Old Town became early twentieth-century London this autumn for the Indian historical feature The India House. Supported locally by Nafta Films, the production brought together Indian and Estonian crews for a shoot involving period streetscapes, action sequences and large crowd scenes.
Directed by Ram Vamsi Krishna and starring Nikhil Siddhartha, the film follows Indian students involved in the struggle against British colonial rule. Tallinn’s Müürivahe Street stood in for Oxford Street, while a protest sequence involving 150 actors was filmed near Cinema Sõprus.
According to Nafta Films producer Esko Rips, 47 crew members travelled from India to work alongside a local team of around 70. Estonian slackliner Jaan Roose also joined the production as a stunt performer.
The filmmakers considered several European destinations before choosing Estonia. Rips identified the country’s 40% production incentive as an important factor in securing the project.