ITV

Category: Movies

  • Festive season comes calling with ‘Dil Bole Hadippa’ and ‘Wanted’

    MUMBAI: The festival season is arriving and film production companies are preparing for their big releases.


    Coinciding with Ramzan, Yash Raj Films and Boney Kapoor‘s BSK Network & Entertainment have lined up Dil Bole Hadippa and Wanted respectively for release this Friday. Also to release is Khussro Film Productions‘ Blue Oranges.



    Dil Bole Hadippa, starring Shahid Kapoor and Rani Mukerji in the lead, is a romantic comedy with cricket as its background, while Wanted (starring Salman Khan and Ayesha Takia) is a film with gang war as its base. Blue Oranges (starring Rajit Kapoor, Harsh Chaya and Rati Agnihotri), on the other hand, is a murder mystery.


    Interestingly all the three films have debutante directors helming the projects. While Dil Bole Hadippa has been helmed by Anurag Singh, dance maestro Prabhu Deva has directed Wanted and Rajesh Ganguly has directed Blue Oranges.



    Also releasing this week is Pixar Films‘ 3D animated film UP that has been directed by Pete Docter who had earlier directed Monsters Inc.



    UP is the story of a 78-year old balloon salesman Carl Fedricksen who fulfils his dream to fly when he ties thousands of balloons to his house and flies away to the wild in South America.



    Next week will see the release of UTV‘s What‘s Your Rashee and Anjum Rizvi‘s Fast Forward.

  • UTV to de-list UK motion biz in January

    MUMBAI: UTV Software Communications plans to de-list its UK motion pictures subsidiary UMP Plc in January next year.

    “Cancellation is expected to occur at 7 am on 8 January, 2010,” UTV said in a filing to BSE.


    UTV, which currently owns 76.82 per cent, has also approved the scheme of arrangement to acquire the remaining 23.18 per cent stake in the company, valuing the overseas subsidiary entity at $271.92 million (Rs 13.1 billion).


    As reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, in July this year the board of UTV had approved the scheme to acquire the remaining in UMP Plc to consolidate its motion picture business.


    UTV said, “If the scheme becomes effective, UMP will be dissolved (without winding up). Application will be made to the London Stock Exchange for the cancellation of the UMP shares from admission to trading on AIM (Alternative Investment Market).”


    Under the proposal, holders of every 3.75 UMP shares will get one new UTV share. The proposal values each UMP share at $2.61, based on the Indian closing price of Rs 475 per UTV share on 11 September.


    UMP would convene a court meeting of shareholders pursuant to the approval received from the High Court of the Isle of Man for the purpose of approving the said scheme, the filing said.


    UMP Plc, formerly UTV Motion Pictures Plc, is a holding company for UTV (Mauritius). Under the proposed plan, there would also be a merger of UTV (Mauritius), which is UMP‘s subsidiary, into UTV pursuant to the Indian scheme and a scheme of arrangement under Mauritius law between UTV (Mauritius).

  • Fast Forward to release on 25 September

    MUMBAI: Fast Forward produced by Anjum Rizvi under the banner of Y.T Entertainment Ltd. & Anjum Rizvi Film is due to release on 25 September.

    The film, a story of people sharing a common passion – Dance, moves around simple people and their struggle against time and the odds is full with conflicts, emotions, romance and thrills.


    Directed by Zaigham Ali Sayed, the film stars veterans Vinod Khanna, Mahesh Manjrekar and a team of youngsters like Akshay Kapoor, Bhavna Pani, Rehan Khan, Sabina Sheema and Siddhanth Karnick.


    Says producer Anjum Rizvi, “Fast Forward is the only film of its kind in India. Till yet, we haven‘t had any film that‘s solely based on the concept of dance. Not only is the film based on it, but also has extremely professional and intense choreography which any dance lover would appreciate. Also we don‘t have any camera acts, on the contrary the film has actual stunts performed by the dancers after seeing it I‘m sure the audiences will be fascinated.”

    Fast Forward will showcase the most explosive dance sequences that are packed with high energy. The film will be the first of its kind to reveal some professional hip hop moves and B Boying stunts unseen in their original form in Hindi Cinema



    till date.


  • Media Asia scores deals on Venice title Accident


    MUMBAI: Hong Kong-based Media Asia Distribution sealed several deals on Soi Cheang‘s Accident that recently premiered in competition at Venice.

    The film, produced by Johnnie To for Media Asia, stars Louis Koo as a hitman who specialises in making assassinations look like unfortunate accidents. The film also stars Richie Jen and Michelle Ye.

    France‘s ARP took all rights of the film for France, while Palisades took the entire US rights. While Dream Movies took Australian theatrical rights, Sky City Cinema took theatrical rights for New Zealand.


    In addition, Media Asia also sold Lu Chuan‘s war drama City Of Life And Death to Spain‘s Karma Films and Russia‘s Carmen Video. The black-and-white film, which was a big hit in China



    earlier this year, was sold to the UK‘s Highfliers during Cannes.

    Meanwhile, Rialto also acquired Australia and New Zealand rights to Media Asia‘s Fire of Conscience, while Dream Movies took Australia and New Zealand rights to Once a Gangster.


  • Troy Kennedy Martin expires at 77

    MUMBAI: British screenwriter, Troy Kennedy Martin, whose credits include The Italian Job, TV series Z-Cars died of Cancer yesterday. He was 77.

    The award-winning writer began his career at the BBC in 1958 and wrote several plays for the broadcaster before creating his first series, Storyboard, in 1961. His most famous TV creation was Liverpool-based police drama Z-Cars, which ran for 15 years although he was only involved in the first two series.

    Martin moved into feature films in the early 1970s with the original screenplay for Peter Collinson‘s The Italian Job that starred Noel Coward and Michael Caine. He followed it up with Kelly‘s Heroes, The Jerusalem File and Sweeney 2, based on the popular TV series, The Sweeney, created by his brother Ian Kennedy Martin. He also co-wrote the screenplay for Red Heat with director Walter Hill in 1988 and Red Dust, directed by Tom Hooper, in 2004.

    Though he was best known for his work in both TV and films, he also penned a novel, Beating The Damask Drum, published in 1959.

  • IFC laps up US right of Valhalla Rising

    MUMBAI: In the first major deal that happened at the Toronto Film Festival, IFC Films has bought US distribution rights of Nicolas Winding Refn‘s Viking action-adventure Valhalla Rising.

    It is stated that Focus Features, Miramax and The Weinstein Company were interested in the Tom Ford‘s directorial debut.

    Meanwhile international rights holder IM Global closed multiple territory deals in a frantic night of deal making.

    Elsewhere, Submarine‘s Josh Braun is understood to have received several bids for Don Argott‘s documentary The Art Of The Steal while UTA agents were in negotiations with buyers for Cracks.

    IFC‘s Arianna Bocco negotiated the Valhalla Rising deal with Carole Baraton from Wild Bunch. This is Mikkelson‘s third film with Refn after the first two instalments of Refn‘s Pusher trilogy.

    IFC Films plans to release the film in 2010 via its IFC In-theaters theatrical and VOD day-and-date platform.

  • Weinstein Co., inks home video distribution deal with Vivendi

    MUMBAI: The Weinstein Co. has inked an exclusive home-entertainment distribution deal with Vivendi Entertainment covering all titles in its catalogue.

    The arrangement effectively replaces Genius Products as a distributor of Weinstein catalogue though it has not yet announced an arrangement for future new-release titles.


    The pact is expected to produce 20 direct-to-DVD releases in a year.


    Universal Home Entertainment will handle distribution on Inglourious Basterds which Universal co-financed with Weinstein.

  • Bollywood waits for rescue from big releases

    MUMBAI: Three hits. That‘s Bollywood‘s scorecard for the year so far. Plagued by bad content, a two-month multiplex strike, cricket and general elections, the industry is waiting to be rescued by the mega releases.

    A few of them have already come and, fortunately, fared well at the box-office. The first to escape the slump came as late as June in the form of Yash Raj Films‘ New York, a story about three friends in the backdrop of 9/11 terror attack, that captivated audiences and grossed Rs 870 million. Eros‘ Love Aaj Kal, a long-distance relationship, raked in over Rs 1 billion and UTV‘s Kaminey, a dark comedy, fetched Rs 800 million.

    But it is no news to cheer as most of the films just fell by the wayside. Recent films like Aage Se Right, Chintuji, Three- Love, Lies, Betrayal, Mohandas, Fox and Bachelor‘s Party fared dismally. This is reflected by their box-office figures. Fox with 79 prints across the country proved to be a disaster when it grossed Rs 13.73 million.

    Aagey Se Right was also rejected. Releasing with 277 prints across the country, the film could muster Rs 21.93 million. Three – Love, Lies, Betrayal didn‘t find acceptance too. With 87 prints, the film grossed Rs 26,05,985.

    Rishi Kapoor‘s Chintuji also failed to work its magic with the audience. The film released with 16 prints across the country and could rope in just Rs 213,157 per print. Mohandas also failed, garnering a measly Rs 226,227.

    Take last week‘s release of relatively small films – Vaada Raha..I Promise, Shaabash! You Can Do It, Baabarr and Aamras. The initial market feedback is that these films are failing to perform.


    There have been over 200 films released in the first nine months, of which we have had only three hits.


    Explains noted filmmaker Mukesh Bhatt, “Some of the big-banner films are expected to release in this period. I think if half of these films click, we would have made even.”


    The Bollywood film industry is waiting to be rescued by the mega releases. All eyes are set for the release of Yash Raj Films‘ Dil Bole Hadippa and Boney Kapoor‘s Wanted on 18 September.


    Says Cinemax COO Devang Sampat, “We are hopeful about the coming few months, when many good films are to release. During the festive season, we can foresee people thronging the theatres. But take it from me, the third quarter will be bigger and brighter than the second.”


    With the September quarter about to end and a few good films lined up, the film industry is keeping its fingers crossed. Rolling out will be big-banner and big budget mmovies like What‘s Your Rashee, Wake Up Sid, Blue, London Dreams, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, All The Best, Main Aurr Mrs Khanna, Alladin,Three Idiots, Jail, Tum Mile, Paa and De Dhana Dhan.


    Says Fun Cinemas COO Vikas Kapur, “Not only will the release of big-banner Bollywood films make an impact, but Hollywood films (UP, Avatar, Sherlock Holmes, 2012 etc) will also work wonders for us, I hope.”


  • PVR Cinemas forays into Pune

    MUMBAI

    : Plaza Centers India, a developer of shopping and entertainment centres, has entered into a strategic alliance with PVR Cinemas to become its multiplex partner. The venture will mark PVR‘s foray in the city.The 400,000 sq ft Koregaon Park Plaza that involves an investment of Rs 500 crore will have a total of 14 lifts and staircases along with three levels of underground parking capable to accommodate 1,100 cars and 950 two wheelers. The new mall will also have an entertainment zone including a world-class bowling alley and a dining area for over 500 people.

    Said Plaza Centers president and CEO Ran Shtarkman, “We are proud to launch our first venture in Pune, which will cater to local flavour with international standards and hope to be completely functional by 2011. We plan to follow it up with more such state-of-the-art malls in the country.”

    He added that the company planned to invest a total of Rs 3,000 crore in India over the next three years. The company has identified Hyderabad, Cochin, Chennai and Bangalore for their future ventures.

    Avered PVR Cinemas Group President Pramod Kumar Arora, “We are extremely delighted by this alliance. Our association with Plaza Centers is based on modern facilities and infrastructure. We will offer six screens and 1500 plus seats.”

    PVR Cinemas, which pioneered the multiplex revolution in India with an 11-screen complex, operates 26 cinemas with a total 108 screens in Delhi, Faridabad, Gurgaon, Ludhiana, Ghaziabad, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Indore, Aurangabad , Baroda and Latur.

    Plaza Centers,India is an indirect subsidiary of an Israeli company- Elbit Imaging Ltd that is listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange and Nasdaq.

  • RBEL sells broadcasting rights of five films to Korea, China

    MUMBAI: Reliance Big Entertainment (RBEL) is trying to gain its stronghold in the South Asian region. It has sold the rights of Ghajini in Korea and additionally, it has also sold the broadcast and digital rights of four of its films

    to China-based broadcasters.

    The four box-office hit films to make their way to China include 13B, Luck By Chance, Karzzzz and Rock On!!

    The sale of the theatrical, broadcasting and digital rights of Ghajini in Korea marks the first time an Indian action film has reached the shores of this South Asian nation.


    At the same time, Big Pictures which has produced and/or distributed recent hits including 13B, Luck By Chance, Karzzzz and Rock On!! has sold the broadcast and digital rights of these films to China-based CC TV.


    These two developments in the entertainment arena reflect Big Pictures‘ initiative to spread the popularity of Indian cinema into new territories.


    Commenting on the sales, Big Pictures COO International Film Business Jawahar Sharma said, “Within just a year of its launch, our international sales team has tapped into major markets for the proliferation of Indian cinema.


    “Indian cinema is gaining ground with the entry of Ghajini into Korea and our four titles into China. China is a crucial market because of its size and we are happy that we have found warm welcome into the largest country in the world.”


    Through such initiatives, Big Pictures continues to educate worldwide audiences on the diverse facets of Indian culture through Bollywood films.