ISANO

12/05/2021

Friends in London, do you know any young people looking for a part-time job?

ISANO ARE HIRING IN LONDON.

We're looking to hire 5-6 young people as trainees. We'll provide training alongside 3-4 senior managers and global partners. This would appeal to people who have some work experience but would like some exposure to some very exciting projects in the UK, US, India, HK and Italy over the next few months.

1-2 x SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATORS - responsibilities include content creation and coordinating content/posts across several internal and client social media accounts, and sourcing (copyright-free) images. We provide online design tools such as Canva. Some experience of Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator preferred (but training given). Basically, we're looking for young people (18-24) that are whizzkids at IG and FB. Working with a senior design team, and other training provided.
3-4 x COORDINATORS - working on events, TV and animation production, design, yoga retreats, travel, property, and other miscellaneous projects that they would very likely be inspired by.

Experience in at least one vertical preferred but not essential (training given). Must have high English written proficiency and attention to detail.

Basic salary: above Minimum Wage + bonus.

Hours: approximately 25 hours per week.

Mostly WFH but would need to meet the senior team once a week (sometimes more) in London.

Applicants must be be on JSA or UC, 18-24 years old (sorry!) and live in Greater London. Email CV and covering letter to [email protected].

26/03/2020

06/05/2019

03/06/2017

The Golden Triangle is a famous tourist circuit in India, comprising of three famous cities- Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. The circuit owes its name to the geographical location of the three cities, with the three cities acting as the vertices of a geographic triangle.

Usually, a Golden Triangle Tour starts off in Delhi for foreign tourists, as the capital is well-connected to major international cities, through its airport. To fully experience the historic and architectural splendor of these three iconic cities, it is suggested that one dedicates at least six days to the tour. We’ve shortlisted 5 major destinations to visit in each of the three cities:

Delhi

Delhi is the current capital of India, and it hosts a variety of sites with great cultural and historic significance. The city provides a fascinating juxtaposition of two inter-cities; the modern New Delhi to the south, and the immutable Old Delhi to the north. While New Delhi might make for a better global face of the country, with its posh residential areas and five-star hotels, much of the city’s touristic charm lies in the erstwhile Mughal stronghold, PuraniDilli (Old Delhi). Old Delhi is replete with bazaars brimming with shopkeepers and tourists alike, the most famous of them all being the iconic Chandni Chowk.

Chandni Chowk: The well-known Bazaar is one of the oldest and busiest markets in Delhi. Built in the 1600s by the Mughals, the bazaar is always bustling with people and is the home of many famous shops and eateries. There is a local saying “Chandni Chowk mein sab kuchmiltahai” (Anything and everything can be found at the Chandni Chowk Bazaar). It is internally divided into three major markets:
- The Cloth Market- If you’re looking to get your hands on traditional Indian wear, then the Cloth Market is the place for you. Sarees and Kurtas of all kinds can be found here. Shops here also sell home furnishing fabrics.
- NaiSarak- NaiSarak gives you access to a wide range of books and stationery materials.
- Dariba- If you have a keen eye for precious gems and precious metals, like gold and silver, then the Dariba Market is your haven.
Red Fort: In a case of situational irony, the serene Red Fort abuts the tumultuous Chandni Chowk! The Red Fort derives its name from the red sandstone used to build its walls. This Mughal marvel was constructed in 1639, by Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan. The fort served as a center of political activity during Shah Jahan’s empire and subsequent Mughal Emperors’ reign. In present times, it is still a hugely significant monument as it is from this Fort; that the Prime Minister of India addresses the Indian populace, on every Independence Day. Even though the fort’s walls have been eroded of their jewels and gems by invaders and the infamous British Raj, the structure is still brilliant enough to captivate the audience. An exciting sound and light show is held at dusk every day, which takes the audience through the history of the Mughal Empire.
Jama Masjid: The Jama Masjid is the largest mosque in India and another architectural wonder of the Mughals. This too was built by Shah Jahan and his love for white marble and red sandstone is evident here too, as the rustic red minarets pave the way for the eyes to rest upon the soothing white-marbled domes. It can accommodate up to 25,000 people and the sheer size of the establishment is overwhelming. It is advised that the visitors are dressed in appropriate clothes whilst going to the Jama Masjid.

Lodhi Gardens: If the Jama Masjid’s sheer size has indeed overwhelmed you, you can always drop by the tranquil Lodhi Gardens. It is a gift from the Lodhi dynasty, who ruled the North West Frontier of the country in the 16th Century. The lush green grass of the Lodhi Gardens spreads over a mammoth 90 acres. Tombs of several significant rulers such as SikanderLodhi and Bara Gumbad are ensconced in these palatial lawns. Plucking flowers inside the premises is strictly prohibited.
QutubMinar: QutubMinar is a minaret made out of red sandstone and marble, located in Mehrauli, just on the purlieus of Delhi. The gargantuan structure was constructed aeons ago, in the 12th Century by Qutb Al-din Aibak, founder of the Mamluk Dynasty. It still puzzles scientists and historians alike as to how the structure still stands, after repeated attempts at vandalizing it. There’s a legend saying that if you can wrap your hands around the pillar, your wishes are granted! The Qutb complex also hosts the iconic Iron Pillar, located there since time immemorial.

- Other notable sites in Delhi include the ethereal PuranaQila (its Sound and Light show has been dubbed as the best by many) and the beautiful Bahai (Lotus) Temple.
Agra
Located at a distance of just 200 kilometres from Delhi, the City of Agra is best known for being the home of the Taj Mahal. Apart from the Taj Mahal, Agra boasts numerous sites of historic and cultural importance. Some of which are:
- Agra Fort- A testament to the Mughals’ architectural prowess, the Agra Fort was built in 1565 by Emperor Akbar. It’s located on the River Yamuna’s right bank, and is quite close to the renowned Taj Mahal, so much so that you can see the Taj Mahal quite clearly if you can get atop one of the parapets! The fort looks imperious from the outside and the Mughals’ romance with the red sandstone comes to the fore here too. The Agra Fort contains a lot of spectacular monuments like the Jahangir Palace and the Moti Masjid.
- Moti Masjid- Located inside the Agra Fort, the Moti Masjid is too beautiful to ignore! Moti Masjid literally translates to Pearl Mosque; referring to how the pearly white domes of the mosque coruscant when sunlight falls upon them. The walls of the structure are marble white too, with traditional Mughal arches adorning the entrances to various halls.
- SikandraFort-Sikandra Fort is the home of Akbar’s tomb. The structure itself is a perfect mix of Islamic, Hindu and Buddhist architectural elements. Construction of this monument was started by the Emperor himself, and his integration of various architectural themes belonging to different religions bear testament to his secular outlook. The fort is characterized by some splendid latticework and beautiful engravings on the walls.
- FatehpurSikri-A seemingly quaint town located on the fringes of Agra City, FatehpurSikri jumps into life once you enter it. FatehpurSikri was a major Mughal city under the aegis of Emperor Akbar, who intentionally designed the city on Persian architectural lines and added other cultural elements to it. Modern day FatehpurSikri is one of the largest producers of colored bangles in the world.
- Taj Mahal- Of course, no trip to Agra can be complete without visiting the illustrious Taj Mahal. What was an ode from Emperor Shah Jahan to his wife Mumtaz, has turned into an architectural marvel for the world to enjoy. The palace is the final resting place of Mumtaz, and was built in the 17th Century. Shah Jahan chose to break away from the Mughal tradition of using red sandstone and instead used the rare Sangemarmar (white marble) to create this mausoleum. Architecturally inspired by Persian and Timurid structures, the beautiful pearl white structure has bravely stood the test of time, retaining much of its spellbinding color. The Taj Mahal was crowned as the best wonder out of the Seven Wonders of the World, in 2007.
Jaipur: The Pink City, as it is famously known, is situated just over 200 kilometers from Agra and is well-connected to the rest of the country by both road and rail. Although Jaipur is located in the state of Rajasthan, it has a lot more to offer than just sun-kissed sand dunes. Jaipur is called the Pink City because of the slightly rosy color of the old forts and palaces in the City. The City of Jaipur is also known for its numerous bazaars. Of course, Jaipur has strong historic footholds and was the home of the famous Rajputs’ Empire. Some touristic spots in Jaipur are:
- Amber Fort(Locally and historically known as the ‘Amer Fort’): The famous Amber Fort is located just a short away from Jaipur City and this was the seat of the Rajput Empire’s throne. Nestled in the Aravallis and overlooking the Lake Maota, the Amber Fort provides a breath-taking view of the City of Jaipur. Within the fortifications exists the ethereal Amer Palace, which was constructed in the 1600s. The Fort is made up of the indigenous and hence readily vailable, red sandstone and the architectural structure is traditionally Hindu.
- City Palace- Located in the heart of Rajasthan’s capital city, Jaipur, City Palace is another architectural gift of the Rajputs to the world. The stunning red color of the red sandstone arrests the viewer’s eye, with the intricate lattice work, inspired by the Hindu and Mughal schools of art. One of the Palace’s unique features is its beautiful Peacock Gate, in which peacocks’ drawings are used to adorn the gates. The Palace hosts a museum and an art gallery too!
- Nahargarh Fort- Perhaps not as well-documented as the rest, the Nahargarh Fort is one of Jaipur’s hidden gems. Located at the verge of the Aravalli Range, the scenic view from the Fort is not for the faint-hearted. It provides an unparalleled vantage point from which can observe the whole of Jaipur City. It is worth your time to visit this hauntingly beautiful Fort.
- Jal Mahal- Jaipur records extremely high temperatures during summer, so if you need a brief respite from the scorching heat, take a trip to the Jal Mahal. Located right in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake, ensconced between the hills of the Aravalli, the Palace can be reached in a local boat. The architectural style of the Palace is accredited to the Hindu and Mughal architectural schools. During the monsoon, only the topmost story of the Palace stays above the water!
- Markets- Jaipur provides an exciting range of markets, with materials such as clothes and indigenous artwork, readily available in famous markets such as the M.I. Road and jewelry such as precious gems and metals are available in the renowned Johari Bazaar.

03/06/2017

India’s tryst with music isn’t just a new-age phenomenon, throughout the course of history; music has played an integral part in the courts of numerous rulers. Many kings over the years have been patrons of music; the most famous legend being that of Emperor Akbar’s court minstrel, Tansen. The great Samudragupta of the Gupta dynasty was a trained musician himself, adapt to humble great musicians!
Music has been a fundamental part of Indians’ primary requisite; religion. Be it the Islamic qawaalisor the Hindu bhajans, music has pervaded all the religions and consequently has carved out space for itself in the common man’s heart. Some trace back the origins of Indian music to the Vedic Era; wherein the hymns were recited verbally.
In fact, India has one of the most evolved and sophisticated schools of music; called ‘Classical Music’.This further bifurcates into; the northern Hindustani classical music and the Southern Carnatic classical music, a demarcation which appeared only in the 16th Century. It is a widely-held belief that the Hindustani form of music is more adaptive than the slightly rigid Carnatic form of music; which is more exclusive than the Hindustani form of music; nonetheless, it’s just as brilliant!
But with the rising popularity of Bollywood music; a brand of music which marks a clear deviation from the well-structured Classical school, the influence of Classical music is waning. There are numerous festivals throughout the year which attempt to breathe new life into the traditional music, at both regional and national levels.
We’ve compiled a list of a few Indian Music festivals, so if you truly believe in the age old adage of music knows no language, then these festivals could be your trip’s highlight:
- Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan: This is the oldest commemoration of Classical Indian Music, a consistent and continual effort since 1875. The festival is held at the holy site of Baba Harivallabh’s final resting place, in Jalandhar. Baba Harivallabh himself was a great evangelist and ambassador of Hindustani Classical music. The festival is a congregation of over a 100 well-known voices of the Hindustani Classical landscape and it draws a huge audience of over 40,000, during its 4 day period. Such is the pull of this magnificent festival, that even the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi couldn’t resist but attend the festival in 1919. It has been announced as a National Festival by the Tourism Department.
- Saptak Music Festival: The Saptak Music Festival is your chance to revel in the beauty of Indian Classical music in all its forms, with a generous dose of folk music and dance forms to avoid the risk of the festival getting monotonous, because it’s held over a span of eleven days! In existence for over 35 years, the Saptak festival is known for its ability to embrace people of various nationalities with open arms and its artists are known for producing soothing notes which transcend linguistic barriers.
- Chembai Music Festival: The Chembai Music Festival is an annual celebration of the Carnatic form of music in India, dedicated to the colossal Carnatic classical artiste, ChembaiVaidyanatha. It is held in the city of Guruvayur, in the serene state of Kerala. The festivals span over two weeks, coming to a crescendo on the auspicious occasion of ‘Ekadasi’. As many as 2500 talented musicians walk up the stage to serenade the audience with their performances! This festival's popularity has shot through the roof recently, as it has quickly established its status as a juggernaut in the Carnatic classical landscape.
- Dover Lane Music Conference- Dover Lane Music Conference is the primary classical music fest in Kolkata and is widely regarded as the best musical festival in the state, due to its heritage. Started way back in 1952, by a few music enthusiasts, the festival garnered momentum and soon became a classical music lover’s haven. Throughout the years' eminent personalities such as Bismillah Khan, Ravi Shankar, Bhimsen Joshi and ZakirHussain have graced the Dover Lane Music Conference. The festival easily pulls a crowd of over 10,000 during its 3-day schedule, with music lovers pouring in from all parts of the state, country, and even the world.
- Tansen Music Fest- Tansen Music Festival is an annual festival held to commemorate the contribution of Tansen, an indispensable figure in the history of Indian music. It is held near Tansen’ssepulcher, in the heart of the country, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. Venerated classical artistes from all over the country perform and attend the 5-day long festival, usually held in the months of November or December. The festival draws a horde of Indian classical music aficionados as well as foreign tourists who’ve come to revel in the cultural and architectural splendor of Gwalior.

03/06/2017

If you ever have a chat about ‘Mumbai’ with a Mumbaikar, the topic of the city’s burgeoning locals would come up inadvertently! Locals have been rightly dubbed as the lifeline of the metropolis, as over 7.5 million passengers use the service every day! What may be regarded as a mere transport service in other places has exalted its status to a way of life for many Mumbaikars. Frequent travelers would tell you that the locals have integrated themselves into the social fabric of the city, and would, of course, narrate you tales of their personal experiences. A common deterrent runs through their stories; don’t travel during the rush hours! They are referring to the morning and evening periods when even boarding a local train takes a Herculean effort.It’s advised that you avoid traveling in local trains from 8-11 am in the morning and from 5-8 pm in the evening, to avoid the intimidating rush hours.
Nevertheless, traveling in Mumbai locals is an unmissable experience for any tourist!
Here we have listed a few tips which would help you in having a safe and enjoyable journey in the locals:
- Download the m-indicator app: It’s imperative that before even stepping a foot into a railway station you download the m-indicator app from the App Store or the Play Store, which is an award-winning app which gives you accurate Public Transport schedules. Its slick user interface makes planning your journey almost effortless. You should peruse the map of the local train network on the app and really jot down your route before reaching the station. You should carefully survey the 3 important railway lines: Western, Central and Harbour lines, which you can on the map, in the app.
- Buy tickets Smartly: Your next step would be to buy the tickets for your journey. If you intend on traveling multiple times, it’s recommended that you buy tourist tickets to save yourself the trouble of buying individual tickets for every new destination, preferably the first-class versions. The methods of booking tickets include standing in the queues in front of the train ticket counters or using the prepaid card service called the ‘Smart Card’ to save time, which is available at every train ticket counter. It’s important to remember that you need not stand in the queues for either purchasing a Smart Card or a First-Class ticket.
- Always use the FOB to change platforms: It is life endangering and a criminal offense to even attempt crossing the rail tracks, and therefore it is important that you use the ‘Foot over bridges’ to get to your platform. It is important to know whether a train would stop at your preferred destination, and you can do that by using the m-indicator app. It’s important to learn the distinction between fast trains, which only halt at major junctions, and slow trains which stop at all stations.
- Lookout for the colored stripes on the platforms: If you’ve bought a first-class ticket then you should look out for red and yellow colored stripes, which denote that the first-class carriage would stop in that region, on the platform even before your train’s arrival. There are various other kinds of reservations too like; green and white/yellow stripes for Ladies’ compartment, ‘Handicap’ sign for the compartment reserved for the differently abled, luggage compartments for people carrying extra luggage. If you’ve decided to travel during the rush hours or are an unfortunate victim of overcrowding due to train delays, then it’s better if you hang your backpack (if you’re carrying one) in front of you!
- Don’t feel contrite to ask for the ‘4th seat’! : If you’ve successfully undergone the grueling process of boarding the compartment, congratulations! Now you just have to find a place to sit! Mumbai locals are designed to seat 3 persons on a bench, but if you’re traveling in the second class it’s a norm to ask the 3 seated people to squeeze together and occupy the unofficial 4th seat. You don’t need to feel conscience-stricken about it!
- Do not alight from the trains till you reach your destination: The Mumbai locals only halt at a station for about 15-20 seconds, so it’s better if you stick to your seat and enjoy the experience!
- Make sure you know the side from which you have to de-board! : In a bid to regulate crowds, the trains are designed to arrive on alternate sides of platforms, so it’s imperative to ask your fellow commuters or use the m-indicator app to know the side from which you have to de-board. It is better if you do this beforehand and prepare yourself for the equally grueling de-boarding process. It’s important to ask the people in front of you in the queue, whether they’re going to get off at your destination too, otherwise, they might just unintentionally block your exit and you might fail to get off at your destination!

That’s it! You’ll ace through your Local experience if you keep these tips in mind!

03/06/2017

What is Surrogacy?

The term ‘surrogacy’ is shrouded in ambiguity as a lot of the people still haven’t comprehended the term completely.

Surrogacy simply put is the process of having willing surrogate (a woman who agrees to bear a baby) carry and give birth to a couple’s child, via any of the following two methods;

- Through her own fertilized egg.

- Through implantation of a fertilized egg in her uterus, from another woman.

Surrogacy is chosen by couples for whom it’s medically impossible to have a child, the pregnancy poses a serious health issue to the woman, or if the intended parents are in the same s*x relationship. Surrogacy can be both: Commercial and altruistic.

- Commercial Surrogacy: When the medical process of surrogacy is employed to accrue monetary profit, exclusive of the basic medical coverage, it’s called a commercial surrogacy.

- Altruistic Surrogacy: In this process, the only monetary compensation involved is the coverage of the basic medical processes, for the surrogate mother.

Surrogacy in India:

India has become one of the primary destinations for Surrogacy throughout the world because of the low costs. Indian clinics charge patients roughly a third of what they’d pay in the UK for the same medical procedure. Indian clinics charge patients anything from$10,000 -$28,000 for the total package, whereas a clinic in the UK may charge the patient above $40,000, for the same. Although in the recent years, a trend of unethical practices in surrogacy has emerged on the Indian landscape, consisting of practices such as financial and physical exploitation of surrogate mothers, financial trading of human embryos, and ill-treatment of surrogate children.

This has resulted in the government passing a recent bill rendering Commercial Surrogacy illegal in India. The Government has imposed strict stipulations in a bid to combat the rising threat of exploitation of women via commercial surrogacy.

According to The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill (2016), approved by PM Modi’s Cabinet, has applied the following changes:
- The Bill prohibits Commercial Surrogacy throughout the country, except J&K. The Bill, however, permits altruistic surrogacy.
- Altruistic Surrogacy is permitted in cases wherein either the intended parents suffer from infertility or the process is undertaken not for exploitations such as prostitution.
- The intended parents need to have a certificate of eligibility and also a certificate of essentiality (a certificate proving the parent(s) as infertile.)
- The certificate of eligibility for the surrogate mother would involve the following stipulations:

a) She ought to be a close relative of the intended parents, and must belong to the age group of 25-35.
b) She ought to be married and must have a child of her own.
c) She must become a surrogate only once in her life time.
d) She must have a certificate stating that she's psychologically and physically fit for the surrogacy.

To be formed NSB (National Surrogacy Board ) and consequent State Surrogacy Boards, will govern and keep a track of the medical clinics which are registered and are practicing surrogacy.

- This Bill also forbids homos*xuals, single parents, live in couples, and people who already have children from undertaking surrogacy.

- This Bill allows surrogacy only for legally married couples, that too after five years of being married. They also need to produce a doctor’s certificate stating that they’re medically unfit to reproduce.

- Women between the age of 23-50 and men from 26 to 55 years old, can opt for surrogacy.

- Flouting Bill's stipulations would result in a fine up to Rs.10 lakh and the convicted person(s) would have to spend 10 years behind bars.

- Proper implementation of this Bill can result in India joining the likes of UK and
Australia (They were the pioneers in permitting altruistic surrogacy).

CURRENTSTATUS:

- JAN-17 (PTI) The Rajya Sabha Chairman has referred a Bill, which seeks to ban commercial surrogacy, to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on health and asked it to submit a report within three months.

- APR-10 (PTI) RS Chairman has granted an extension up to July 11th to the Standing Committee w.r.t the submission of the report on the Surrogacy Bill.

03/06/2017

Kulture Shop is a design studio based in Bandra, which proudly bucks the popular trend of sourcing in artwork from abroad. Located directly opposite the iconic Mehboob Studios, one could be forgiven for failing to spot the almost inconspicuous shop. In a generation obsessed with Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad and Batman, KultureShop attempts to break the mold by letting Indian artwork take center stage.
Founded back in 2013 by ArjunChiranjiva, it was launched as a platform for the very best Indian graphic artists from all over the world. In a matter of a few years, it has already established itself as one of the frontrunners in the Indian Graphic Arts category. KultureShop, which started off as an outlet for only art tees and art prints, has evolved into a multifarious institution, as they have successfully branched into fields like stationery, accessories and home decor products.Perhaps what sets them apart from its rivals is its unique diversification of products. Products here are categorized even on the basis of the customer’s mood!
They allow their designers freedom of thought and expression and encourage originality. Their customers include global icons like Coldplay frontman, Chris Martin, and Major Lazer’sJillionaire.
The various artists are painstakingly curated from all over the world, with an 8-step curation process employed for hiring the best of the best. They’ve developed an environment which makes it easy for even strangers to stirring up conversations about the art in place. In fact, KultureShop frequently hosts events which let the customers interact with the artists themselves, showing just how much they value active interaction with the customers. Their products offer an alternative form of social commentary with witty one-liners and eye-catching designs. They also have an active ecological conscience and they take their duties very seriously by delivering their products in reusable packaging.
KultureShop’s products are available online but it’s imperative that one visits the actual store itself to truly experience the ethos of the place. Art pervades through the entire outlet, from their products to their shelves! The walls are intelligently coated with white paint, which embellishes the vast array of vibrant products, in our minds.
Fortunately, if you’re a member of Isano, you won’t have to be at the mercy of Google Maps or Apple Maps to reach Mumbai’s hidden gems like KultureShop, our store tour team will be happy to take you to such places. What’s more, you say? You can get a 10% discount on your first purchase if you use our referral code: ISANO10.
For Store Tour information:
KultureShop’s official website:

03/06/2017

To the average eye, the issues which foreign filmmakers face whilst shooting and consequently releasing films in India may be restricted to just occasional tussles with the CBFC, but the real issues often go amiss. India, a country which is as varied as it is vast, would be a filmmaker’s haven, in a utopian setting. But the country’s various social, cultural, economic, and climatic issues aren’t the only barriers filmmakers have to overcome; they also have to combat the country’s lackadaisical and laborious system of granting permissions. The amount of time to procure appropriate permissions may throw the film’s schedule off track. Obviously, Indian government’s constant endeavor to live up to its ‘corrupt’ tag, doesn’t help matters, as long and intentional delays often impel producers to resort to under-the-table methods.
Although foreign filmmakers interested in filming in India in the near future may breathe a sigh of relief by knowing that the procedure for installing a single-window clearance system has been initiated by the Modi Government, it is still in its infancy and has only been implemented in a select few states.
Foreign filmmakers choose to shoot their films in countries with far less evolved film industries than India’s, simply because of the ease with which they can procure permissions, coupled with the various tax rebates they enjoy. While it is understandable that obtaining permissions for regions of historic significance, national parks, places suffering from political unrest, might be difficult, the process of obtaining permissions is still multi-layered and time-consuming. The process of procuring permissions often involves handing out copies of your script and schedule to various governmental and local bodies. Additionally, you are to strictly adhere to your submitted script during your film’s shoot and you’re to submit a copy of your film to the government before putting it up for public release.
Moreover, foreign Production houses often pay thrice the local fee to the locals they get onboard; as decided by the local trade unions. Although one may argue that paying thrice the fee is not an issue for films with multi-million dollar worth budgets, it is an issue for filmmakers with modest means.
Another major factor is the nature of the film being shot; is it a feature film or a documentary? Because while feature filmmakers might have to contend with the aforementioned issues, documentary filmmakers’ misery is taken a step further as they need to accrue local permissions from local bodies wherever applicable. It is nearly impossible for documentary filmmakers to plot the path because of the ever-shifting nature of a documentary.
India is steeped in labyrinthine historic, political and social issues, factors which would be a filmmaker’s happy hunting ground ideally, but unfortunately, complex processes of procuring permissions are acting as a sufficient deterrent.
Fortunately, ISANOs there.