A GARDEN centre is taking to the big screen. . . as the backdrop to an Indian thriller!

Visitors to Dunbar Garden Centre got more than they bargained for last Wednesday when a 40-strong crew film crew appeared!

The film – Adam Joan – is set to be released in August or September and will be shown in both Scotland and India.

Actor Prithviraj Sukumaran –who has won National Film Awards in India – and well-known Bollywood actresses Mishti and Bhavana star in the film, which is described as “an upcoming Malayalam thriller”.

The film features the tag line “They took her away… Now… He will take them down!”

LisaDora Mason-Chadburn, marketing manager at the Berwick, Dunbar and Plantsplus Garden Centres, told the Courier they were a bit surprised – but delighted – to be asked permission to use the premises.

She said: “The main star is really big in south India and doing a lot of directorial work.

“It seemed to be really professional people – it was not a small thing.

“We thought it was going to be a small, independent movie but it was more of a blockbuster. There was an abduction scene which is what we were being used for.

“There was a fake gun involved. There was no shooting but there was fake blood and they had a special effects guy in to do that. We were a bit worried that people were getting the wrong idea!”

Filming has taken place throughout Scotland, with scenes being shot at Edinburgh Airport, as well as in Midlothian.

Malayalam cinema is the Indian film industry based in the southern state of Kerala and is dedicated to the production of movies in the Malayalam language, which is spoken by more than 38 million people.

Much of the filming was done around the deli area in the garden centre beside the restaurant, with scenes also shot at the till and in the car park on Spott Road, with local police on duty.

Among those taking part was Donald Budge, of the town’s Steadings Crescent.

Mr Budge, who features as an extra in the film, was delighted to be involved and said: “I think it was positive and I would like to think Dunbar would be a good venue for filming.

“A couple of years ago a company hired Winterfield Golf Course for a week and the film [Tommy’s Honour] was directed by Jason Connery, Sean Connery’s son.

“It was very good and Dunbar could lend itself for a lot of film; it is good advertising for the town.”