ITV

Category: Movies

  • Shemaroo releases two song compilation titles on home video

    MUMBAI: Shemaroo Entertainment has released two song compilations: Sargam ke Saathi Pancham – Kishore on DVDs and Singer – Composer R.D. Burman on VCDs.

    The first album is a compilation of songs of the legendary pairing of R D Burman and Kishore Kumar. The album includes melodies like Yeh Jawani Hai Diwani from Jawani Diwani, Musafir Hoon Yaaron from Parichay, Kiska Rasta Dekhen from Joshil; Aanewala Pal Jaanewala Hai from Golmaal, Jidhar Dekhon Teri Tasveer from Mahaan and many other memorable tracks.


    The second album that features twelve songs composed and sung by R D Burman himself includes tracks like Meri Jaan Maine Kaha from The Train, Samunder Mein Nahake Aur Bhi from Pukar, Gol Maal Hai Bhai Sab Gol Maal Hai from Golmaal, Tu Ne Kiya Kya Jaadu from Apne-Apne and Kal Kya Hoga Kisko Pata from Kasme Vaade amongst others.


    While the Sargam ke Saathi Pancham – Kishore DVD is priced at Rs. 99, the VCD of Singer – Composer R.D. Burman is priced at Rs. 45.



  • Ambika Soni calls for meet to study gamut of film censorship

    NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni has convened a meeting of the Central Board of Film Certification and the nine regional boards in mid-October to study the whole gamut of film censorship and the possibilities of revising the Film Censorship Guidelines.

    Ministry sources told indiantelevision.com that the meet will discuss all issues relating to film censorship in the light of various directives of different courts and changing mores in society.


    The CBFC, headed by senior film artiste Sharmila Tagore (into her second term), has been re-constituted and its term will end on November 2011. However, some of the regional boards may be reconstituted.


    The meet may also consider the suggestion – made first by an earlier Chairperson Anupam Kher and now by Tagore – for permitting adult content on television in late night or early dawn hours.


    When it was pointed out that some regional boards had as many as 150 members, the sources said the CBFC only had 25 people and there was no objection to the regional boards having more members as long as these were people representing all sections of society who understood cinema. In any case, the rule was that a minimum of five persons should be present whenever a film is screened for censorship.

    The Film Censorship guidelines were last revised on 6 December 1991, though the CBFC has been guided from time to time by Court orders. Furthermore, changing social attitudes in society has led to acceptance of certain scenes in films that strictly do not come under the guidelines.

  • D-Cinemas to get $525 million financing

    MUMBAI: Decks are being cleared for a $525 million financing of up to 15,000 3D cinema (D-Cinema) installations over the next five years in US‘s three biggest film circuits viz Regal, AMC and Cinemark that will add 3D equipment at many of their cinemas.

    The 3D add-ons will be considerably cheap, the cost of which will be borne by the theatre chains or in some cases even by the 3D vendors.


    The studios previously signed off on so-called virtual print fee deals, which guarantee payments to exhibitors for years after studios cease having true film print costs. But the upfront costs of the conversions are so big that it will require help from Wall Street.


    Hence JP Morgan is arranging a $325 million bank syndication and $200 million in equity-based contributions from private-equity firms and the circuits themselves.


    The industry‘s rollout of digital and 3D hardware was stalled by the nation‘s economic downturn. Though the syndication will take a couple months to complete, word that the rollout soon can resume, comes as good news for distributors struggling to market 3D releases despite the scarcity of 3D screens.



    Originally planned in early 2009, the syndication was first delayed until summer before lingering credit difficulties pushed its launch beyond Labor Day. The funding impasse — which dragged on for the better part of a year — has had studios with 3D releases competing furiously for a paltry base of 3D movie screens, both domestically and abroad.
    Things grew so tense that the big three circuits got started on some of the DCIP conversions even before the financing was arranged.


    There may now be fewer than 2,000 non-competitive 3D auditoriums in the U.S. and Canada. New installations could push that number to above 2,500 screens by the year‘s end.

  • Summit upgrades designation of key intl. distribution and marketing

    MUMBAI: Summit Entertainment has promoted Brad Kembel and Deborah Tellis as executive vice-president and senior vice-president of international distribution, while Jill Jones has been upgraged to the post of senior vice-president of international marketing and publicity.

    The three executives have been instrumental in success for the company, where releases like Twilight, RedCliff and P.S. I Love You propelled Summit‘s films to $568m at the international box office in 2008.

    Kembel will continue to oversee international distribution of all Summit productions and third party titles in all media, as well as supervising sales administration and distribution finance activities for the company.

    Tellis will continue to handle the execution of film and video releases as senior vice-president of international distribution. Her new role will increase her presence within 83 international territories, working closely with local distributors on distribution strategy, dating, and the execution of marketing campaigns.

    Jones will continue to supervise the creation of international marketing campaigns and publicity activities as well as overseeing all international markets, festivals and press junkets.

    “Brad, Deborah and Jill have made significant contributions to our studio‘s international division and their promotions are well deserved,” Summit COO Bob Hayward said.

  • Me and Orson Welles to release in US on 25 November

    MUMBAI: Richard Linklater‘s Me and Orson Welles, which premiered at last year‘s Toronto International Film Festival, will be released theatrically in the U.S. on 25 November.
    A coming-of-age drama that involves the legendary director‘s 1937 staging of Julius Caesar, the film stars Zac Efron and Claire Danes and introduces Christian McKay as the young Orson Welles.

    UK-based producer and financier Cinemanx has struck distribution deals with Freestyle Releasing, which will secure theatres and Warner Bros. Home Video that will handle the DVD release.

  • Coinstar sells its entertainment services

    MUMBAI: Coinstar Inc. has reportedly sold its entertainment services business to Colorado-based National Entertainment Network Inc. (NEN) for a nominal consideration to focus on its Redbox DVD rental kiosks and coin-counting machines.NEN was formed last month in anticipation of acquiring the division. Coinstar said that it expects to receive a net gain of between $25 million to $35 million on the sale.

    “Our core DVD and coin kiosk businesses provide a solid foundation and, with the sale of our entertainment services business, we are better positioned to maximize the substantial market opportunity in automated retail,” said Coinstar CEI Paul Davis in a statement.

    NEN operates coin-operated gumball and toy machines, kiddie rides, skill cranes and video games and other amusement vending machines at malls and supermarkets.


  • Four films to release this week

    MUMBAI: Four films are set to release this week including Vaada Raha…I Promise, Ruslaan, Baabarr and Aamras.

    Samir Karnik directed Vaada Raha…I Promise, starring Bobby Deol, Kangana Ranaut and Dwij Yadav, is the story of Duke Chawla, a researcher on Cancer, who can‘t do enough when his friend Roshan is afflicted by the deadly disease.

    Ruslaan, directed by Mohan Sharma and starring Rajeev Sharma, Smita Jaykar, Meghna Chatterjee and SM Zaheer, is a film based on the grim aftermath of the Mumbai 7/11 train blasts and how the innocent get trapped.


    The Ashu Trikha directed Baabarr is set in Lucknow and depicts the effect illiteracy has on today‘s youth, their outlook and their aspirations. The film that throws light on the growing ambitions of the youth and how their focus shifts to organised crime with an underlying message that ‘crime never dies, it just changes faces‘ stars Soham Deepak, Mithun Chakraborty and Urvashi Sharma.

    Directed by Rupali Guha, Aamras is a young adult comedy drama that delves on a story of four girls and how their friendship is tested with various situations that come across their lives. Presented by Vistaar Religare Film Fund, the film has Vega, Natasha, Maanvi, Zarina Wahab and Sukanya Kulkarni.



  • Maverick Productions’ Gujarati film Natheeyo goes on floors

    MUMBAI: After Kannada film Housefull, and an under-production Malaylam film Gulumaal, actor Anuj Saxena, in a move to extend his production house Maverick‘s portfolio, has decided to produce a Gujarati film.

    Directed by Chander Bahl, Natheeyo was launched today with a start-to-finish schedule. The star cast of the film includes Chandan Rathod, Sapna, Dhawan Memoda and Dipangi.


    Says Maverick Productions CEO Saxena, “Maverick is a full-fledged entertainment company producing films, ads, events and documentaries. Regional cinema has a huge niche market.”


    Maverick‘s independent production Chase, directed by Jag Mohan Mundhra, is planned for release on 4 December.

  • MPDA to screen Hollywood films in US Embassy at Delhi

    MUMBAI: The US Embassy and the Motion Picture Dist. Association (India) Pvt. Ltd, the Indian arm of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), have decided to screen between 6-12 new Hollywood films every year at the American Center, Delhi.

    The announcement was made at a reception hosted by US Ambassador to India Timothy J. Roemer of MPAA CEO and chairman Dan Glickman on 8 September.


    MPAA‘s studio members will provide the films in digital format to the American Center, New Delhi. Members of the MPAA include Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, NBC Universal, Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture and Warner Bros Entertainment Inc.


    “The United States and India are two nations having a growing and shared stake in encouraging a healthy, legitimate marketplace for film and other creative works,” remarked Glickman.


    Noted Ambassador Roemer, “The US and India have the largest motion picture industries in the world, reflecting the appreciation of film that both Indians and Americans share. This partnership between the American Center and motion picture industry leaders will allow us to share American culture with India in new and exciting ways.”

    The American Center is undergoing a complete renovation of its theatre. The new theatre will be digitally compliant to MPAA standards and will include a new screen, new projection equipment and new sound system.



  • Zee Cinema lines up Boney Kapoor festival from 14 September

    MUMBAI: Coinciding with the release of Wanted, Zee Cinema has announced a week-long festival of Boney Kapoor blockbusters called ‘Most Wanted Afternoons‘.

    Starting 14 September, the festival will telecast films like Pukar, Mr. India, No Entry, Humara Dil Aapke Paas Hain and Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja daily at 12 noon. Besides, Zee Cinema would also engage viewers with special insights of these films.


    Exclusive interviews with Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Sridevi, Satish Kaushik and Boney Kapoor have been lined up during the telecast of the films.

    Said Zee Cinema Business Head Mohan Gopinath, “Most Wanted Afternoons is a special dedication to Boney Kapoor and his films. Since Zee Cinema enjoys the highest channel share during afternoons, we decided to make the most of it with the festival. It gives us immense pleasure to be associated with films that Boney Kapoor has produced.”