British celebrities promise to visit Kerala

NEW DELHI/LONDON - Kerala bowled over British glamour, sports and political personalities like Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, actors Bill Nighy and Dev Patel, glamour couple Yasmin and Simon Le Bon and Lord Swaraj Paul with its destination campaign movie “Your Moment is Waiting” premiered in London.

Most of the celebrities who attended the premiere at the Saatchi Gallery Tuesday promised to visit the God’s Own Country after watching the three-minute movie.

The star-studded guest list of 150 celebrities at the premiere, the first-of-its kind destination promotion event by an Indian state tourism board, included models Anna Friel, Jade Jagger, Daisy Lowe, Meg Matthew; television presenters Lisa Snowdon, Mariella Frostrup, and Sam Branson, son of the owner of the Virgin Galactic Richard Branson, said Kerala Tourism statement in New Delhi Wednesday.

“Your Moment is waiting” has been directed by Prakash Varma for Kerala Tourism.

Expressing his curiosity about Kerala in a lighter vein after watching the movie, Drogba said: “I hope you have enough beds in Kerala. I can see this campaign getting a lot of people visiting God’s Own Country. It is a dream place.”

The Ivory Coast national captain’s team Chelsea’s homeground Stamford Bridge is only 20 minutes of walk from the Saatchi Gallery.

Smitha Tharoor, the sister of former minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor, described the movie as “brilliant”. “It reflects the true image of Kerala as a place full of surprises,” she said.

Veteran actor Bill Nighy of the Harry Potter fame said he was impressed. “The three-minute glimpse of Kerala is mesmerising and I think people are going to want to see this film again and again,” he said.

“It is my quest to eat, pray and love in Kerala sometime this year,” model Yasmin le Bon said.

London-born athlete of Nigerian origin Christine Ohuruogu, who clocked 49.61 seconds to win the 400 metres at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, who attended the premiere, confessed to having never heard of Kerala before.

“But it is one I am going to add to my destinations to visit before I die,” the British athlete said.

The guests were treated to renditions of Mohiniattam and Ottamthullal by Corinne Mathou from France and Hartmut Schmidt from Germany. The artists have lived in Kerala for nearly 10 years to master the traditional dance forms.

A Kerala platter by Michelin chef Sriram Aylur of the Quilon restaurant in London added to the flavour of the campaign. The evening was compered by Jimi Mistry of the “Blood Diamond” fame. Malayalam superstar Mohan Lal posed with the Indian community for photographs.

Venu V., secretary of Kerala Tourism, who played host to guests, said: “Kerala has always corresponded with western notions of Eden with its seductive beauty and weather.”

“When you visit Kerala, it is about travelling inwardly as well as physically,” he said.