ITV

Category: Movies

  • Pyramid Saimira partners RDB Group to produce films, TV shows

    MUMBAI: Chennai-based Pyramid Saimira Group has announced that it has roped in Kolkata-based infrastructure major RDB Group as a strategic partner for its production company.


    With RDB Group, which has presence in Eastern and Western India, Pyramid Saimira Productions International Ltd (PSPIL) will produce 28 films and 1785 hours of TV content for the fiscal year 2010-11, the company said in a filing to BSE.


    The company, which has scaled down and consolidated its business operations due to liquidity crisis, is also in the process of restructuring its operations. As a part of the exercise, the group has decided to “focus on its constituent parts sector wise”.



    Pyramid Saimira shares closed at Rs 26.50, up 4.95 per cent from its previous close.

  • CVO rolls out movie line-up for Diwali

    MUMBAI: Movie channel CVO has rolled out a special movie line up ‘Kal, Aaj aur Kal….‘ for the ensuing Diwali season. It will screen movies under the themes – ‘Musical Mondays‘, ‘Timeless Classics Tuesdays‘, ‘Action Dhamaka, ‘Wednesdays‘ ‘Jubilee Hits Thursdays‘ and ‘Laughter, the Best Medicine, Saturdays‘ – at 9 pm.

    While ‘Musical Mondays‘ will showcase films such as Dil, Aap Mujhe Achhe Lagne Lage, Zeher and Aayee Milan Ki Bela, Timeless Classics Tuesdays will feature films like Deewaar, Sadma, Golmaal and Anand. Films including Gangaajal, Aan – Men At Work, Dus and Garv – Pride & Honour will be telecast on Wednesdays at 9 pm as part of Action Dhamaka, Wednesdays.


    ‘Jubilee Hits, Thursdays‘ will include Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hai, Omkara, Sanam Bewafa, Shiva and Tridev and ‘Laughter, the Best Medicine, Saturdays‘ will include films like Masti, Dhol, Golmaal – Fun Unlimited, Ramji Londonwaley and Hum Kisi Se Kam Nahi.


    Says CVO GM marketing and branding Sumeet Das, “At CVO, we always permeate variety in content. It is this USP that enables CVO‘s viewership to cut across all slices of socio-economic classes and make it a habit with most of the viewers.”

  • Eros partners with Baskin Robbins to promote ‘Aladin’

    MUMBAI: Eros International has tied up with Baskin Robbins to promote its upcoming film Aladin.

    As part of the initiative, three Baskin Robbins-Aladin ice-cream flavours have been launched.


    Also, a a special consumer-focused promotion activity has been unveiled wherein any consumer who buys a value scoop from Aladin‘s new range of ice creams, stands to win merchandise such as tattoos inspired on characters from Aladin and music CDs of the film.


    Commenting on this association, Graviss Foods executive director- Foods Division Pankaj Chaturvedi said, “IWe feel that launching ice creams named after film characters is a unique way to connect with our consumers who are largely youngsters.


    “An association with a family entertainer expands our audience to children as well. This alliance is keeping with our strategy to associate with popular films and television programmes as means to connect and interact with our wide target audience and offer continuous excitement and innovation at out outlets, all of which is required to build the Baskin Robbins ice cream brand and take it to newer heights,” he added.

  • Films from Big Pictures’ stable for two Intl film fests

    MUMBAI: This October two prestigious international film festivals, one each in Asia and Europe respectively, namely the Pusan Film Festival (PIFF) and the London Film Festival will experience a varied taste of Indian cinema through a varied slate of films Big Pictures.

    The 14th PIFF to be held from 8 to16 October in Korea will screen Malayalam film Kutty Srank (Sailor of Hearts) and Bengali film Abhomaan (The Eternal) in the ‘A Window on Asian Cinema‘ section on 9 October.


    The 53rd London Film Festival to be held from 14 to 29 October will screen Hindi film Well Done Abba



    on 18 October and Bengali film Janala (The Window) on 27 October in ‘World Cinema Category‘. Director Shyam Benegal is expected to attend the screening of Well Done Abba.



    Says Big Pictures COO Mahesh Ramanathan, “These selections make the Reliance Big Pictures portfolio of best in class world cinema titles the most consistent performer in the festival circuit. Over 30 festival selections across our 12 films is a trendsetting and unprecedented success ratio, hitherto not experienced in the Indian film industry.”



  • PVR Pictures to release ‘Taking Woodstock’ in India on 9 October

    MUMBAI: PVR Pictures is set to release ‘Taking Woodstock, the world‘s first ever full-length feature film based on the Woodstock Music Festival of 1969 directed by Academy Award-winning director Ang Lee in India on 9 October.

    As a tribute to the festival in its 40th anniversary and to celebrate the release of the film in India, PVR Pictures will be hosting a special premiere of the film on 7 October at INOX, Goa.


    The film has been inspired by one of the greatest and most pivotal moments in popular music history that gave birth to one of the largest music revolutions of all times.


    Speaking on the occasion of the musical release of the film, PVR Pictures Uday Singh said, “In our endeavour to bring world class movies and award-winning content to India, we are happy to present Ang Lee‘s Taking Woodstock. We would like to thank all our partners and media for the encouraging support. It is a big achievement that will help us immensely in giving an impetus in promoting quality niche films in India.”


    Musicians including Luke Kenny, Uday Benegal, Ranjit Barot and Anuradha Pal will be a part of this Woodstock celebration in Goa, along with Brian Tellis, chairman of Fountainhead Events who had taken part in the Woodstock Festival and DJ Black Jack who recently had an opportunity to meet Artie Kornfeld, one of the founding organisers of the legendary Woodstock Music & Art Fair held at Bethel in New York in 1969.


    Kingfisher Airlines and Taj Hotels have extended their support by coming on board with INOX to host this ‘exclusively themed premiere‘ in Goa.

  • 100th birthday of Shashadhar Mukerji celebrated

    MUMBAI: Shammi Kapoor and his wife Neela along with their son Aditya Kapoor attended the 100th birthday celebrations of veteran film producer, studio owner Shashadhar Mukerji held on floor No.2 of Filmalaya Studios on 29 September.

    The party was hosted by the family and staff members of Filmalaya Studios. Sons Ronu, Joy, Deb and Shubir along with Shibani Mukerji-Maulick, their only sister, who now stays in the US, looked after the guests till the wee hours of the morning.


    Sashadhar had two more brothers, film director Subodh Mukherjee and film producer Prabodh Mukherjee.

    Among the personalities who graced the event were music director Bappi Lahiri, Chitrani Lahiri, Bappa Lahiri, Ram Mukerji and Krishna Mukerji (mother of actress Rani Mukerji, actors Anand Balraj, Nimaai Bali,actresses Saahila Chaddha, Rituparna Sengupta, Rupali Ganguly( daughter of renowned director Anil Ganguly), producer- director Deepak Balraj, directors Anurag Basu and Raajiv Ruia and writer Sachindra Sharma, producer Aseem Bhattacharjee and his son Sanjay and many others.


    Sashadhar Mukerji was the brother-in-law of Ashok Kumar and Kishore Kumar being married to their only sister, Sati Rani. He was also instrumental in getting Ashok Kumar into films.

    Paying his tribute to Mukerji, Shammi Kapoor said, “After nine flops in a row, I got Tumsa Nahin Dekha which sky-rocketed my position as a dependable actor. All this was due to Sashadharda‘s blessing. Then when Filmalaya Studio got going. I got Dil Deke Dekho which was also a very big hit which in today‘s language means super-hit. The songs



    of both these films are remembered by my fans even today. I am honoured by the sons and daughter of S. Mukerji today, I feel humbled. My memories with S. Mukerji will never die.”


  • Lionsgate, Lakeshore to co-produce ‘Vatican Tapes‘

    MUMBAI: Lionsgate and Lakeshore Entertainment will co-produce “The Vatican Tapes,” a spooky genre film written by Christopher Borrelli from a story by Borrelli and Chris Morgan.

    Lionsgate acquired the thriller and will co-distribute it globally with Lakeshore.


    The film is being produced by Gary Lucchesi, Tom Rosenberg, Chris Cowles and Morgan.


    Lionsgate and Lakeshore recently teamed on Gamer which grossed $21 million worldwide, and Crank: High Voltage which has made $16 million worldwide.

  • Adam Fogelson and Donna Langley named chairman and co-chairman at Universal Pictures

    MUMBAI: Adam Fogelson has been named chairman and Donna Langley co-chairman at Universal Pictures. They succeed David Linde and Marc Shmuger.

    Fogelson, the former president of marketing and distribution, and production president Langley are widely respected in Hollywood and have been rising stars at the studio for some time. Vice-chairman and COO Rick Finkelstein will work closely with both as a strategic advisor.

    By this move Universal top brass are smarting from the poor performances of high profile summer releases Land Of The Lost and Funny People that grossed $49.3m and $51.9m at the North American box office


    respectively.

  • Golden Shell winner City continues selling streak


    MUMBAI: Hong Kong‘s Media Asia Films has sold Lu Chuan‘s City Of Life And Death to Latin America and Greece, following its success at San Sebastian where it won the Golden Shell for best film and best cinematography.

    Incidentally, the distribution company had taken all rights for Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay while Nutopia acquired all rights for Greece.The harrowing black-and-white film, which depicts the Japanese massacre of Nanjing in 1937, was previously sold to territories including the UK (Highfliers), Spain (Karma Films) and Russia (Carmen Video).

    Venice competition title Accident has proved to be another hot seller for Media Asia which has closed a deal with Wild Bunch for all rights in Germany, Italy and Benelux.

  • Revolver snaps up Pattinson doc Robsessed

    MUMBAI: UK-based distributor Revolver has bagged rights of Robsessed, a documentary about Twilight and New Moon star Robert Pattinson.

    Revolver is currently at Mipcom in France selling the film to broadcasters and home entertainment companies. It intends to release the DVD in the US and UK in November to coincide with the release of New Moon, the second film in the Twilight franchise.

    The documentary looks at the teenage phenomenon known as being “Rob-sessed” and Pattinson‘s rise to the most sought-after young actor after winning over fans and critics with his performance in Twilight, based on the Stephanie Meyer.

    Revolver is also planning to create a box-set with the documentary accompanying Haunted Airmen, the 2006 drama starring Pattison to which it also holds the rights.