ITV

Category: Movies

  • PVR Cinemas to premiere ‘Ekans-Hero Ek Villain Anek’ on 19 August

    PVR Cinemas to premiere ‘Ekans-Hero Ek Villain Anek’ on 19 August

    Mumbai: Ekan, the hero of Pogo’s original animated series Ekans-Snakes Awake!, is set to make his big screen debut. The children’s animated film “Ekans-Hero Ek Villain Anek” will be released exclusively in theatres at PVR cinemas.

    This new film will be shown in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu at 72 PVR locations across 40 cities in India beginning 19 August.

    In addition to the movie screening, PVR has planned a variety of fun activities for kids, such as mascot visits and contests with Ekans merchandise as prizes.

    At the flagship PVR theatres in Mumbai, New Delhi, and Bengaluru, an experiential zone will be created where young fans can meet Ekans.

    Additionally, weekend activities such as face painting, drawing, origami, and interactive games are planned to keep the kids entertained.

    Warner Bros. Discovery head of kids cluster – South Asia Uttam Pal Singh said, “Since the launch of our India original animation series ‘Ekans – Snakes Awake!’, it has consistently been a fan favourite. We are all set to take Ekans’ adventures and bravery from the small screen to the big screen with ‘Ekans-Hero Ek Villain Anek’. PVR Cinemas and the experience it provides make it an ideal partner to premiere the movie and reach an even wider audience. We are sure the movie will appeal to kids across the country, propelling Ekans to even greater popularity.”

    PVR CEO Gautam Dutta said, “PVR is excited to host POGO’s much-awaited kids’ animated movie, ‘Ekans-Hero Ek Villain Anek.’ The movie is being released as part of the PVR Kids’ Day Out initiative, which offers the perfect opportunity for families with children to have a fun outing at our cinemas. It has always been our endeavour to offer exclusive content and differentiated experiences appealing to every customer demographic. We strive to create opportunities for our youngest audience to experience our unique offerings. We are certain that kids will enjoy watching Ekans on the big screen.”

  • Ontrack teams up with Kamar film factory for the 67th Filmfare Awards South 2022

    Ontrack teams up with Kamar film factory for the 67th Filmfare Awards South 2022

    Mumbai: Ontrack has partnered with Kamar Film Factory as a media sales partner for the 67 Filmfare Awards South 2022. Filmfare recently announced that the awards would be held on 18 September 2022, in partnership with the Kamar Film Factory.

    For the first time, the awards will be held in Bengaluru on 18 September , 2022, at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIC), where some of the biggest stars from Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam films, as well as Bollywood, will converge to witness an evening full of entertainment, glamour, and glitz.

    Ontrack CEO Alok Rakshit said, “This gives us an interesting opportunity to cater to brands for whom the four Southern states have become a very vital cog, as it addresses a large and discerning audience who are big followers of the fantastic movies that are churned out every year, leaving behind an indelible impact on the minds of viewers and fans alike.”

    Kamar Film Factory founder Kamar said, “There are no two ways about it, Filmfare Awards South is one of the most-awaited events in the entertainment circuit of South India. It was dearly missed last year, but we’re excited that this time it is spread over two days, giving every release from 2019 to 2021 a chance to win the recognition it deserves. I’m eagerly looking forward to this.”

    Ontack business director Saugat Baanerjee added, “South Indian films have become a popular mainstay on a pan India basis and we are delighted to collaborate with Kamar Film Factory on the esteemed South Filmfare Awards 2022 and shall look forward to monetizing the same on-ground as well as on-air, to the best of our abilities.”

    Kamar Film Factory’s Anand Mishar commented, “We are glad to associate with ONTRACK as our media sales partner since they have an extensive footprint pan-India with their existing network of leading clients and their in-depth relations with media agencies. The amplification of the established intellectual property via the Zee Network of channels in the South and leading digital partner Facebook, also makes it an interesting proposition for brands this year.”

  • PVR celebrates 25 years with a variety of initiatives

    PVR celebrates 25 years with a variety of initiatives

    Mumbai: Multiplex operator PVR has completed 25 years in the country. To commemorate this milestone, the brand has rolled out a multi-media campaign with a film “Iss Andhere mein bahut Roshni hai” (There is light in this darkness) featuring Bollywood actor Aamir Khan. It has unveiled PVR’s 25th anniversary logo, along with PVR’s first NFT coin and an iconic ticket. PVR is also celebrating the occasion with contests.

    The concept for the Khan film was derived from a consumer insight and the poem was written by Vineet KKN Panchhi, which was further evolved for the film. The film idea comes from the insight of all the emotions and experiences the audience goes through – the magic of movies, the bonding and escaping to a fantasy world when the lights go down. The film is a play of light and darkness, taking the viewer on a journey that is brought to life inside our cinemas, as that’s the only place where darkness plays that role. It reinforces the promise of “more magic,” “more memories,” “more adventures” and “more happiness” to moviegoers to remain relevant, both as a category as well as a brand.

    PVR chairman and managing director Ajay Bijli said, “We take immense pride and feel extremely joyous on completing the 25-year milestone in India. The entertainment industry, the viewership patterns, as well as the audience have evolved over the years, and PVR has been able to live up to their expectations. As we continue to meaningfully engage consumers as well as introduce them to newer cinematic experiences, our focus will remain on bringing winning stories to the screen and adding joy and comfort to the life of our stakeholders.’’

    PVR added that it was founded back in 1997 with one sole motive: to completely revolutionise the cinema experience for Indian audiences. Over the past 25 years, it has introduced the latest cinematic formats from across the world to the Indian audience. The brand has evolved with changing times with cutting edge technology through extra-large screens, Laser Projection Systems, and immersive sound to bring alive every little detail of the movie. Seats being pivotal to delivering the ultimate sensorial cinema experience, PVR has ensured an experience that befits a king. It has reimagined a cinema F&B offering curated by its chefs with concepts customised to cater to varied preferences and choices for its discerning customers. Through, PVR Privilege, India’s leading entertainment loyalty programme, it strives to deliver to its customers an experience which is specific to their consumption behavior.

    PVR CEO Gautam Dutta commented, ‘’It’s been an eventful and phenomenal journey for PVR over the last 25 years and we are extremely excited and humbled as we celebrate this milestone. We would like to extend our gratitude to all our associates, partners, and especially movie enthusiasts, who have continued to have faith in us over these years. The enduring customer loyalty as well as enhanced brand recall and perception associated with our brand is an outcome of our customer obsession. Innovation has been our cornerstone to building a more delightful, cinematic atmosphere and delivering an exceptional experience to our patrons.’

    “Of course, we couldn’t have achieved any of it without the hard work of our employees and the perseverance of our business partners, who are resolutely committed to building our brand and helping us redefine the entertainment experience all over the country.”

    To commemorate its 25-year journey in India, PVR Cinemas has introduced a series of contests and offers to entice audiences and movie lovers across the country:

    Short film contest: Participants need to make a two-minute film on the theme, “Iss Andhere mein bahut Roshni hai.” Content creators and independent film makers of the best entries judged by film critics will be able to showcase their creations on the big screens of PVR.

    Social media engagements ‘filmy wishes contest’: Participants can use their favourite movie dialogues or song lyrics to create reels or stories and post them, tagging our official Instagram handle. The lucky 25 will get a chance to win free movie tickets for the entire year, invites to premieres, star meet and greets, and more.

    #25yearsofPVR Instagram filter challenge: Every year of PVR’s existence, one iconic movie will appear as gibberish, and participants will have to guess which one it is. PVR will randomly gratify 25 participants who have answered correctly with exclusive merchandise.

    Guest and privilege member offers:  As a part of the 25th anniversary celebration, all guests who visit PVR in the celebration week get 25 per cent off on any of its food combos and unlimited Pepsi.

    Earn 25 per cent points: During the celebration week, PVR privilege members can earn 25 per cent points instead of the usual five per cent earnings.

    NFT collection: PVR also brings its heritage to life in the metaverse. Special edition NFT coins and tickets capture the story of its brand and its most iconic moment. To make it even more special, it is giving away movie vouchers and a chance to contribute towards its social cause.

  • UFO Moviez Q1 FY23 revenues up to Rs 90.6 crore; loss down to Rs 2.5 crore

    UFO Moviez Q1 FY23 revenues up to Rs 90.6 crore; loss down to Rs 2.5 crore

    Mumbai: In-cinema advertising platform UFO Moviez reported its first quarter results for the financial year 2023. The company reported revenue of Rs 90.6 crore versus Rs 28.2 crore in the corresponding quarter last year. It saw a loss of Rs 2.5 crore versus Rs 26.7 crore in Q1 FY22.

    The company reported earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) of Rs 9.8 crore compared to Rs 18.1 crore year-on-year.

    While theatrical revenues are increasing due to the consistent and uninterrupted release of films by both the Hindi and regional film industries, advertisement revenues are slowly recovering due to lower government advertising spending. The corporate advertising segment has, however, shown a significant recovery.

    “The steady release of movies has resulted in a fuller resumption of operations and a revival in revenues,” said UFO Moviez executive director and group CEO Rajesh Mishra. “The success of big budget movies in April’22 and May’22, provided an impetus to all revenue streams, especially the corporate advertisement revenue that has seen a substantial recovery. Whereas, the lag in government advertising spending continued to put pressure on the overall advertisement revenue. We have already turned Ebitda positive and we expect this upward trend to continue. Meanwhile, the increasing appetite of audiences to consume movies in different languages and genres will continue to benefit our theatrical revenues.

  • Filmmaker duo Raj Nidimoru & Krishna DK collaborate with Netflix for creative partnership

    Filmmaker duo Raj Nidimoru & Krishna DK collaborate with Netflix for creative partnership

    Mumbai: Filmmaker duo Raj Nidimoru & Krishna DK on Thursday announced their collaboration with Netflix, in a multi-year creative partnership. Under their D2R Films banner, they will develop and produce their upcoming projects for Netflix.

    The filmmakers will also be the show-runners and directors of Netflix’s upcoming comedy crime thriller series, “Guns & Gulaabs,” a story of love and innocence in a world of crime, a nostalgic tale of all kinds of firsts, from first love to first kill.

    With an impressive slate of cult films, blockbusters, and premium shows, Raj & DK are undoubtedly one of India’s finest and most successful creators. The dynamic duo have mastered distinct genre mash-ups with their quirky style, creating extraordinary stories that have won both critical acclaim and commercial success.

    The duo also produced one of the most critically acclaimed and loved films of last year, the Telugu film “Cinema Bandi,” currently streaming on Netflix.

    Sharing details about the partnership, Netflix India VP-content Monika Shergill said, “Raj & DK are one of the most original creative voices in the country. Along with their unique and ingenious storytelling style, they are also a powerhouse studio. We are excited to continue our relationship with them for a multi-year creative partnership that will bring superlative entertainment to Netflix members around the world.”

    Raj & DK added, “Netflix is a pioneer in the streaming space backed by its unstinting, passionate support for filmmaking and filmmakers. We are looking forward to creating big, unique stories and challenging ourselves to push the storytelling into exciting and fresh spaces.”

  • Inox Leisure sees best quarterly performance in Q1 FY23; revenue up by 19 per cent

    Inox Leisure sees best quarterly performance in Q1 FY23; revenue up by 19 per cent

    Mumbai: Inox Leisure on Wednesday announced its first quarter results for financial year 2023. The company reported its best quarterly performance with revenue at Rs 589 crore up by 19 per cent year-on-year (YoY). It reported earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBIDTA) at Rs 130 crore up by 41 per cent YoY and profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 74 crore soar by 80 per cent YoY.

    The company’s average ticket price (ATP) peaked at Rs 229 up by 16 per cent YoY and spends per head (SPH) stood at Rs 96 up by 19 per cent YoY.

    Inox reported its highest food and beverage (F&B) revenue at Rs 164 crore. It added three new properties and 17 screens during the quarter. The company also rolled out a merchandise business so fans can buy products from their favourite super hero or movie franchises.

    “After facing a severe impact on business due to the pandemic in the last two years, the company reported its best quarterly performance across majority metrics on the back of tent poles that resonated with Indian audience, duly complemented by their huge pent-up appetite,” said the statement.

    The April-May-June quarter saw the release of blockbusters like “RRR”, “KGF: Chapter 2”, “Vikram”, “Bhool Bhulaiya 2” and “Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness” resulting in footfall of upto 18.4 million guests in Inox properties.

    Inox expects great turnaround in the business going forward with the content line-up in the upcoming quarter with releases like “Laal Singh Chaddha”, “Raksha Bandhan”, “Liger”, “Brahmastra” and “Vikram Vedha”.

    Inox Group director Siddharth Jain said, “During the entire stretch of the pandemic, something which kept us hold the fort, was the belief in ourselves, our passionate moviegoers, our stakeholders and our teams. From enabling us to see through the pandemic, to charting our path out of it, this belief has driven us towards this historical & miraculous performance in Q1.”

    He further added, “While our best-ever quarter marks a moment of rejoice, we will also ensure that it keeps inspiring us to raise the bar, while maintaining a strong focus on customer-centricity, innovativeness and profitability. We are committed to stay ahead of the curve, and keep delighting our stakeholders with such magical performances. We could not have asked for a bigger celebration on completion of 20 glorious years of our company’s operations.”

  • UFO Moviez expects the company will return to pre-pandemic level: Sanjay Gaikwad

    UFO Moviez expects the company will return to pre-pandemic level: Sanjay Gaikwad

    Mumbai: As long as there are no new pandemic-induced restrictions that would affect business operations, UFO Moviez founder and managing director Sanjau Gaikwad is optimistic that the company will soon return to the pre-pandemic level.

    Addressing shareholders in the annual report, he said that during the year, as a proactive measure amidst the second wave, the company raised equity funds to the tune of Rs 96.82 crore. It was primarily done to address any unforeseen events due to any further Covid-induced restrictions and to help the core business meet its immediate capital requirements as soon as the movies begin to release following the pandemic. The fundraising, he explains, has given the company a strong financial foothold. “We will prudently utilise these funds for business expansion and any short-term capital requirements until our core business regains normalcy.”

    He noted that the severity of the Covid-19 pandemic and ensuing restrictions continued to affect the business in FY22 as well. This, he explains, was due to the absence of big-budget releases during the first seven months of FY22, which was led by the closure of cinemas in most of the States due to the second wave of Covid.

    “The release of big-budget movies began only in November ’21 and continued thereafter. However, the widespread of the third wave of Covid-19 at the very beginning of January ’22 and subsequent restrictions led to another two months’ impact on the business operations as movies only started to be released again towards the end of February’22. As a result of the two lockdowns due to the second and third waves of Covid-19, the overall recovery in the business has remained subdued in FY22. However, as a result of a steady flow of releases in recent months and the strong support of movie-goers, theatrical revenues have rebounded swiftly while advertising revenue is gradually improving. This is expected to continue in FY23 subject to no further pandemic-induced restrictions.”

    The company’s AGM will take place on 23 August 2022.

  • SPE appoints Shony Panjikaran & Lada Guruden Singh to lead distribution and production biz in India

    SPE appoints Shony Panjikaran & Lada Guruden Singh to lead distribution and production biz in India

    Mumbai: Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) appoints Shony Panjikaran and Lada Guruden Singh to take over the reins of its distribution and production business in India.

    Lada Guruden Singh has been named general manager and head of Sony Pictures International Productions (SPIP), India. He will be overseeing SPIP India’s local film development and production slate as well as its expansion in regional cinema. Lada will report to SPIP co-heads Michael Rifkin and Shebnem Askin.

    Shony Panjikaran has been named general manager and head of Sony Pictures Releasing International, India. He will manage Sony Pictures’ theatrical releasing business across the Hollywood and local cinematic slate in India, including all distribution, sales, and marketing efforts. Shony will report to Sony Pictures Entertainment senior vice president distribution Asia Adam Herr.

    In addition to its impressive Hollywood line-up of upcoming feature films, Sony Pictures is further committing to investment in Indian theatrical projects, and it has expanded its footprint in regional cinema including Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam projects.

    Shony Panjikaran said, “Sony Pictures is a global force that creates imaginative and engaging content for audiences across the world. It is an absolute privilege to oversee SPE’s theatrical business in India and bring an incredible slate of Hollywood and Indian cinema to Indian audiences. For both Lada and I, it will be hugely rewarding to lead Sony Pictures Entertainment, India into a new era. Today, the film market in India is virtually borderless, and I am looking forward to pioneering new initiatives and partnerships in this dynamic distribution space and to satisfy the demand for brilliant global and local stories in India.”

    Lada Guruden Singh said, “As India leads the world in entertainment, creating content in volume and quality that ranks right at the top, we are excited to give it our all to become one of the top players in the country. From tentpole hits to clutter break-through content, from stories unfolding at the margins to the celebration of Indian mythology; we want to push the boundaries and synergies with leading talent as well as with fresh new voices. Shony and I are committed to making this dream come true, breaking all language barriers, and turning Sony Pictures Entertainment, India into the most sought-after creative studio in India!”

    Lada has been with Sony Pictures group since 2014 in multiple capacities across public relations, marketing, and creative development. He has worked on titles like “Piku”, “PadMan”, “102 Not Out”, “Looop Lapeta” and has led the studio’s expansion in Malayalam and Telugu with “9” and the recent blockbuster “Major”. India’s youngest biographer at the age of 22, Lada is a published author and a poet with three books to his credit. He is a former journalist and has worked with India Today as an anchor. He has also worked at Fox Star Studios and Disney India previously. Most recently, Lada has been instrumental in snagging the rights to “Shaktimaan”, a superhero trilogy currently in the works at SPIP.

    Shony Panjikaran has spearheaded Sony Pictures Entertainment India’s marketing initiatives over the past four years helping to launch enormously successful releases including “Spider-Man: No Way Home”, “Spiderman: Far From Home”, “Jumanji-The Next Level”, “Venom” and “Major”. Prior to this tenure at Sony Pictures, Panjikaran spent ten years at Fox Star Studios where he led their marketing efforts in a variety of roles; his work included films such as “Avatar”, “Life of Pi”, “Deadpool”, “Sanju”, “Baaghi 2”, Atlee’s “Raja Rani” amongst others.

    “Lada and Shony’s elevations underscore the film studio’s commitment to continue creating theatre-worthy tentpole films in India with a slew of big-ticket announcements set to come out in the coming weeks, as well as building on the track record of success with beloved Hollywood movies,” said the company statement.

  • PVR launches an in-cinema ad innovation

    PVR launches an in-cinema ad innovation

    Mumbai: Cinema exhibition company PVR Cinemas has announced its latest innovation in the in-cinema advertising space since its come-back after the pandemic. It has introduced 270-degree on-screen experiential in-cinema advertising for the first time in India to drive higher excitement for brands. Maruti Suzuki has become the first advertiser to use this platform to launch its all-new 2022 Maruti Suzuki Brezza in cinemas. The experiential view of the product is being showcased in select PVR locations in Delhi, Gurugram, Mumbai, and Bangalore for a week.

    This differentiated offering from PVR in collaboration with Xperia Group, an OOH media company, uses 3D Projection Mapping on the side walls, powered by hybrid technological integration. The company explains that projection mapping can actually convert ordinary commercials into highly attention-grabbing commercials and give the content a new life.

    PVR CEO Gautam Dutta said, “We are thrilled to partner with one of the finest carmakers in the country and have the chance to showcase their newly launched product in an immersive manner to visiting patrons inside the theatres. Innovation is at the core of PVR, and we are optimistic about offering our customers and advertisers something that is beyond their expectations. We are happy to expand the in-cinema advertising space. We are confident that this innovative method of advertising, which is ideal for product debuts, will help brands make a lasting impression on theatregoers’ emotions. PVR is really looking forward to collaborating with more brands and advertisers to revolutionise in-cinema advertising.”

    PVR added that after the pandemic, it has been distinctly unique to break the inertia of inaction in advertising and film promotions. Strong partnerships with movies and brands were forged in the process. After it’s reopening, PVR tied up with leading personal care brand Dettol as a hygiene partner for its customer care programme (PVR Cares). For the first time in the history of world cinema, PVR & SS Rajamouli came together with PVR reimagining its brand identity and logo as ‘PVRRR’ and launch “PVRRR NFT,” iconic digital collectibles of the movie. A shift in the aspirations of customers from value-buying to seeking experience led to the launch of the Kotak PVR Movie Debit Card, India’s first co-branded movie debit card.

    PVR has high affinity among young audiences, including a sizeable section of its loyal customers, and PVR chose this differentiated approach to create a youthful and exciting appeal for Brezza customers. Families bond over the shared experience of watching movies, and a utility vehicle purchase is mostly a family decision, hence the experiential advertising works well for the launch of the brand.

    Cinema advertising has proven to be an effective medium of advertisement, as it attracts undivided attention from the audience. However, with the impact of the lockdown, the share of in-cinema advertising has declined against traditional forms of media. Introducing what it says is the industry’s first experiential advertising in cinemas, PVR reinforces the fact that it is an uber-effective medium for active advertising and brand engagement. With experiential advertising, PVR is set to offer exposure to in-cinema advertisers and it aims to push the boundaries of on-screen cinema advertising for an immersive experience of the brand.

    On and off-screen media at the cinema offer advertisers a unique opportunity that no other medium can match, with cinemagoers spending an average of 15 minutes in and around the theatre. Cinema design and navigation, PVR explains, ensure that audiences enjoy a great experience at every touch point across their cinema journey, starting from the box office till the exit.

  • Cosmo First elevates Kulbhushan Malik as global business head of its films business

    Cosmo First elevates Kulbhushan Malik as global business head of its films business

    Mumbai: The global business conglomerate Cosmo First on Tuesday announced the elevation of Kulbhushan Malik as the business head for their films business globally. Earlier, he was working as head of operations for international businesses.  

    He will be responsible for devising strategy on operations and business growth.

    Malik brings over 24 years of experience with diverse experience in general management roles with P&L responsibilities, business development and finance roles with a demonstrated record of working in the manufacturing industry.

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    Speaking on the announcement, Cosmo First group CEO Pankaj Poddar said, “Kulbhushan has not only been an integral part of Cosmo Films growth but has helped navigate it via his leadership, strategy, and business acumen. I am confident that with Kulbhushan in-charge, Cosmo First will continue to achieve its strategic business goals.”

    Commenting on joining his new role, Malik said, “Cosmo has been at the forefront of innovation and manufacturing capabilities in the packaging industry. I look forward to working with the team and leveraging their capabilities to seek challenges and continue to deliver upon our commitment to quality, trust, and innovation with our consumer-centric approach.”