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Category: Hindi

  • Eros sets up subsidiary to foray into VFX

    MUMBAI: Eros International has set up a subsidiary company to foray into visual effects in association with leading international talent Charles Darby.






    Charles Darby


    EyeQube Studios, in which Darby will have a minority stake, is initially investing $5-7 million to start operations and is already working on two of Eros‘s films, Drona and Aladdin.


    “We are setting up a visual effects company specifically for the Indian market as we realise there is an enormous gap. We will also have very select international projects. Eyeqube is already working on Drona and Aladdin which are made on a budget of $10 million each,” said Eros International COO Jyoti Deshpande.


    Both these films will have visual effects that will eat away 40-50 per cent of the total investments.



    EyeQube also will be working on 3-4 of Eros‘ movie projects. “Each of these movies will draw investments in the range between $40-60 million,” said Deshpande.


    EyeQube will cater to the top-end visual effects work and have over 300 people working in it. “We plan to work on 3-4 films a year and our focus will be on quality,” said Darby who was in Mumbai to address the press conference.


    Eros International president India Sunil Lulla said, “EyeQube will raise the bar of Indian visual effects and catapult our industry to international standards. It will produce not only Indian films with visual effects never seen before, but be also selectively involved with a few international projects.”


    Charles Darby has been associated with more than 45 films in the last 13 years. Darby‘s work includes films like Titanic, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, The Fifth Element and Minority Report.

  • DG2L Technologies to touch 3000 digital screens in 18 months

    MUMBAI: US-based media solutions company DG2L Technologies has achieved supplying a total of 1500 digital cinema systems to UFO Moviez across India and Europe. The company plans to double this figure over the next 18 months.

    UFO Moviez has tied up exclusively with DG2L Technologies for the digital cinema equipment supply and hardware support.


    DG2L Technologies director and CEO Ankur Sheth said, “We see a huge potential in the digital cinema systems business and have set a target to touch 3000 theatres in the next 18 months.”


    Digital cinema encompasses the production, delivery and projection of full-length motion pictures, trailers, advertisements and other audio / visual content to theatres using digital technology.


    UFO Moviez CEO and executive director Sanjay Gaikwad said, “The technology that DG2L Technologies possesses and provides is par excellence. In consideration and recognition of their expertise, we couldn‘t have chosen a better partner for our sophisticated and hi-tech movie delivery platform. Thanks to the technology they provide, we rest assured of smoothly and effortlessly delivering superb quality of movie viewing to our audiences across the world.”


    Digital movies are encrypted and compressed computer files that can be stored on a secure disk or cartridge, or sent through broadband cable or via satellite. Those large files are downloaded on a secure digital storage server, a robust computer system connected to a digital projector located in the projection booth of the movie theatre.


    DG2L holds a 49 per cent stake in UFO Moviez, a digital cinema platform offering end-to-end digital cinema solutions and delivering films via satellite directly to theatres using a pay per show business model.

  • Make films shorter for global market: Shah Rukh

    NEW DELHI: Actor Shah Rukh Khan says that there is a need to take to more positive themes in Indian films and to make them much shorter if India has to go global.


    Khan who was here to participate in the ‘In conversation with Karan Johar’ session at the two-day Hindustan Times Leadership Summit on ‘Imagine the India that Can Be’, said this was also in keeping with the changing trends of seeing films in multiplexes, which could hold more shows in a day.


    Addressing a press meet along with Karan Johar, Khan said that screenplay-writing was being treated as a science all over the world except India, where it was still seen as art.


    Filmmakers treated the audiences in the same manner as three or four decades earlier, whereas viewers were much sharper now and screenplays could be crisper.


    There was also need to “marry technology with technique” or get the right kind of manpower for handling the modern technologies available, he added.

    He also stressed the need for aggressive marketing at international film festivals, adding that a film shortlisted for the Oscars needed full support despite the controversies that surrounded every selection. “Controversies are good, because they show there is a lot of diversity in our cinema, but once a film is selected, we should back it up,” he asserted.


    He felt films should now start concentrating on more positive aspects of the country and not merely on the negative or regressive aspects, since there was much reason to celebrate in India‘s growth. He said Chak De was not about hockey or against cricket. It was first and foremost, a film about women empowerment and any sport would have been fine for the theme.


    Answering a question, he said he had always acted in films of which he liked the storylines and did not care who made them, but he said almost all the newcomers with whom he had done films became big filmmakers afterwards. “I cater to what the people would like to see. I am not the master of my own destiny,” he said.


    Johar said brevity was not his strong point and his shortest film had exceeded three hours. He may, therefore, find it difficult to cut them down to two hours as Shah Rukh had suggested. But he generally agreed that films should be shorter.

  • James Bond debuts on DVD in India

    MUMBAI: Excel Home Videos has made a ‘bond‘ with Ian Fleming‘s suave and charming secret agent.It is releasing James Bond movies on DVD for the first time in India.

    The 2 disc DVDs released by Excel Home Videos include all 20 bond titles from Dr No to Die Another Day.


    The DVD 2 disc edition priced at Rs 599 is available in all leading bookstores across the country.


    Says Excel Home Videos MD M N Kapasi, “This is for the first time that any Bond Movie will be releasing on DVD in India.”


    The offering chronicles the various actors including Sean Connery, Roger Moore, George Lazenby, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, who have played Bond over the decades with their introduction and interview. “The DVDs will be a treat for all Bond loyalists with scores of other extra-features,” Kapasi said.


    The extra features also include making of the film, theatrical archives, video and pictures of exotic locales, image database of all the characters of the movie, TV broadcast and director‘s commentary among others.

    The movies include Dr.No, Diamonds Are Forever, From Russia With Love, You Only Live Twice For Your Eyes Only, On Her Majesty‘s Secret Service, A View To A Kill, Goldfinger, Goldeneye, Thunder Ball, License To Kill, Live And Let Die, Octopussy, Die Another Day, Moonraker, The Man With The Golden Gun, The Living Daylights, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day.

  • Jaane bhi do yaaro set for release on 7 December with 400 prints

    MUMBAI: Jaane bhi do yaaro is made on a budget of Rs 70 million and is slated for a worldwise release on 7 December.


    The satellite rights of the film have been sold. Talks are on with a corporate house to sell the music and DVD rights.


    Releasing in India with 400 prints, the Sanjay Sharma (brother of Anil ‘Apne‘ Sharma) directed Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro has tied up with jewelry line Gitanjali and will have in-film placement of their products.


    A comedy revolving around a diamond robbery, the film will have the brand Gitanjali promote the lead actor, Kapil through various contests and promotions. Probably it is the first time that a male lead is being promoted by a jewelry line.


    As for the rights to the title of the film, Rohit Shetty, the marketing consultant to Anil Sharma, discloses that it has been acquired. But he refused to divulge the amount. Jaane bhi do yaaro was a 1983 satirical comedy directed by Kundan Shah and produced by NFDC.



    Jaane bhi do yaaro will launch Kapil Sharma (brother of Anil Sharma) in the lead opposite Kulraj Randhawa (of TV serial Kareena Kareena fame) and will also star Meghna Chatterji. Bappi Lahiri has scored the music in the film. Made under their family banner, Shantketan, the making of the film has been supervised by Anil Sharma.

  • Palador’s world film library to be available on Tata Sky

    MUMBAI: Palador Pictures has announced a tie up with Tata Sky under which they can show nearly 1000 World Cinema titles on the direct-to-home (DTH) service provider‘s pay-per-view service Showtime.


    Starting 12 October, Tata Sky has lined up eight movies from Palador‘s library for the coming five weeks which subscribers can order once and watch it multiple times till midnight.


    Some of these films are Akira Kurosawa‘s Seven Samurai and Throne of Blood, Jim Jarmusch‘s Dead Man and Coffee and Cigarettes, Wong-Kar Wai‘s In The Mood For Love. Titles also include American, European and Asian films.





    Every week, Tata Sky will replace the films with a new set from the Palador library.


    Palador Pictures founder and MD Gautam Sikhnis said, “We have worked hard to create a collection of the best-of-the-best movies from across the world and are currently nurturing around 1000 titles in our ever-growing library. And now, the task of taking them to the discerning Indian viewers is made easy with Tata Sky satellite television service. We promise a future of the best of World Cinema to every Tata Sky subscriber.”


    According to an official statement, Palador Pictures invested over $4 million (Rs 160 million) to acquire legal rights to nearly 1,000 English and foreign language film titles in the World Cinema category.

    Tata Sky Ltd CEO and MD Vikram Kaushik said, “Our tie-up with Palador enables us to introduce our subscribers to classics in the World Cinema category made by legendary film makers. These films will be available in DVD quality picture and will have only one ad-break thereby enhancing the viewing experience for our subscribers.”


    The Palador catalogue also boasts of classics directed by the masters of yesteryears and the current crop of mavericks: Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Akira Kurosawa, Krzysztof Kieslowski, Jean-Luc Godard, Francois Truffaut, Abbas Kiarostami, David Lynch and many more.


    Earlier, Palador had UTV announced their divorce for a world cinema movie channel project.

  • Mukta Arts to invest Rs 400 million for ‘Yuvraaj’










    MUMBAI: Subhash Ghai promoted Mukta Arts is investing Rs 500 million for its two upcoming movies.


    The company will pump in Rs 400 million to produce Yuvraaj, a source in the company says. The movie, starring Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor and Katrina Kaif, is slated for release in 2008-09.


    Black & White, with Anil Kapoor in lead role, will consume Rs 100 million and is expected to release this fiscal, the source adds. Both the films are being directed by Ghai.


    The other movies lined up for release in the fiscal include Bombay to Bangkok (directed by Nagesh Kukunoor), Cycle Kick and Right Yaaa Wrong (starring Sunny Deol and Irfan Khan). Mukta Arts had already released Good Boy Good Boy which failed at the box office.


    The pipeline will also have a Marathi movie, Kaande Pohe.


    In 2006-07, the company had released four movies – Shaadi Se Pehle, 36 China Town, Apna Sapna Money Money and Khanna and Iyer.


    Mukta Arts had posted a total income of Rs 1 billion for the fiscal ended 31 March 2007.

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  • Eros inks content deal with Joost.com

    MUMBAI: As part of its strategy to focus on new media initiatives, Eros International has inked a deal with internet TV service Joost (www.joost.com) to provide it with over 200 Bollywood movies and over 600 music videos from its catalogue.

    Joost will feature Bollywood music videos and Indian filmed entertainment through exclusive Eros movies and music video channels.


    The catalogue includes films such as 1942-A Love Story and Salaam – E – Ishq.


    “We are very pleased to be a part of Joost and to be able to create Eros-branded music video and movie services. We are strong supporters of advertising-supported business models and believe Joost’s ability to deliver targeted and interactive advertisements will benefit consumers and marketers equally. This ability poises the company to expand the video distribution business and capture an enormous market opportunity,”
    said Eros International EVP corporate development and new media Marcus Stuart.

    Joost EVP content strategy and acquisition Yvette Alberdingk Thijm said, “Bollywood films and music have seen tremendous growth recently, and demand continues to grow. With Joost, people around the world are able to watch these movies and music videos for free. As a global entertainment platform, Joost is a destination where people connect over shared interests, like Bollywood. Our partnership with Eros demonstrates the variety of the programming available on Joost.”


    Founded by Janus Friis and Niklas Zennström, Joost uses TV content on the internet by offering viewers a full-screen audiovisual experience under a web 2.0 user experience. Joost is an online, global TV distribution platform, bringing together advertisers, content owners and viewers in an interactive, community-driven environment.


    On the new media front, Eros already has partners such as Comcast, YouTube and Sky.

  • Moser Baer acquires 800 Hindi films from Ultra Video

    MUMBAI: Moser Baer India‘s aggressive play in the home video market continues. In a bulk deal, the Mumbai-based company has acquired over 800 Hindi and 100 Gujarati titles from home video major Ultra Video.

    Ultra Video currently has a library of over 2200 movies.


    Some of the Hindi titles are Sholay, Koi Mil Gaya, Andaz Apna Apna, 36 China Town, Iqbal, Dillagi, Bombay to Goa, Hero No 1, Saagar, Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hai Kaun, Aradhana and Amar Prem.

    The Gujarati movies include Desh Re Joya Dada Pardesh Joya, Gaam Ma Piyaryu Ne Gaam Ma Sasar, Unchi Medi Na Uncha Mol, Hiran Ne Kanthe, Jode Rahejo Raj and Moti Verana Chawk Ma.

    Moser Baer will be releasing these titles in the home video market on DVD and VCD formats at attractive price points. It will use its proprietary and patented technology.


    Says Moser Baer CEO Entertainment business Harish Dayani, “With this acquisition, we own or have license for over 2500 Hindi titles and for over 400 Gujarati titles. This acquisition enables us to offer some latest hit titles to consumers at affordable prices points between Rs 28 – Rs 39 for VCD / DVD, by leveraging upon our patented and proprietary technology.”


    The company will leverage its distribution reach to market these titles. Moser Baer has already lined up over 475 distributors across the country and stocks shall be soon available in around 100,000 outlets.


    Moser Baer says its new division is close to acquiring copyrights / exclusive license for more than 9,000 titles in all major Indian languages, which comprises a third of all movies produced till date in India.

  • Big Music and Home Entertainment inks deal with Universal Pictures International

    MUMBAI: Reliance ADAG‘s Big Music and Home Entertainment has entered into a strategic alliance with Universal Pictures International as exclusive licensee for India, Sri Lanka and Mauritius.

    As a part of the deal Big Music and Home Entertainment will market and distribute Universal‘s home video products which in the three markets.


    Big Music and Home Entertainment CEO Kulmeet Makkar says “This is a prestigious alliance for us. Universal Pictures is amongst the top Hollywood studio s with a vast catalogue which is extremely relevant for Indian market. With this alliance, Big Music and Home Entertainment makes a significant entry into Hollywood Home Entertainment segment in India”.


    Makkar says, “Universal Pictures International has 200 Hollywood titles which we are going to market and distribute in India, Sri Lanka and Mauritius. We will also dub the content in Hindi, Tamil, Telegu as the three markets are largely dominated by these language speaking people.”


    Apart from the three languages, Big Music and Entertainment has further plans to dub the content in Bhojpuri as the market is widening up.


    Big Music and Home Entertainment will launch all the current titles owned by Universal as well as the forth coming movies such as Bourne Ultimatum, Charlie Wilson‘s War (2006), American Gangster, Evan Almighty, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, Barbie the Island Princess and the TV show – Heroes.