Even as Independence Day: Resurgence, the sequel to the 1996 Oscar-winning film Independence Day, is all set to claim famous buildings in various cities around the world including Dubai's very own Burj Khalifa, India's iconic structures will remain unaffected by the aggressive alien invasion.
Mumbai’s best-known landmark, the Gateway of India, was one of several monuments chosen for destruction by CGI and special effects, along with Kuala Lumpur’s Petronas Towers.
Fox Star Studios, the Indian subsidiary of 20th Century Fox, has confirmed that they were asked to refrain from blowing up popular Indian monuments to appease the sensitive nature of the country's audience. "Indians are too touchy," said a source from the studio, according to the daily newspaper Mumbai Mirror.
“Keeping the sensitivities of all the religious groups and other activists in mind, the makers were asked not to shoot in India or portray any prominent monuments being damaged.”
In August 2015, the Central Board of Film Certification cut a scene in the animated feature film Pixels that showed the destruction of the iconic Taj Mahal.
The cast and crew of Resurgence were recently in Dubai to promote the film, which will be released here on the first day of Eid.
The film already has a local connection – the previously released trailer shows the Burj Khalifa, the world’s highest building, being ripped from the ground by the invading aliens and used as a missile to destroy London.
artslife@thenational.ae
