ITV

Category: Film Production

  • Wide sales picks worldwide rights to panorama title Garbage

    Wide sales picks worldwide rights to panorama title Garbage

    MUMBAI:  Paris-based sales company Wide has picked up worldwide rights to Panorama title Garbage, directed by Q, which is the only Indian feature in Berlinale official selection this year. A political drama that reflects the times we are living in, Garbage, Q’s new directorial venture Produced by Oddjoint Films and Karma Karma Entertainment & Media LLP, stars Tanmay Dhanania (Brahman Naman), Trimala Adhikari and Satarupa Das. The story of the film revolves around a woman who takes a taxi driver hostage when he starts stalking her and discovers he has a shocking secret at home.

    The film marks Q’s return to Panorama seven years after his rap musical Gandu in 2011. His last film, comedy Brahman Naman (2016), was acquired by Netflix and premiered at Sundance.

    Q said: “We were looking at a sales agent who could understand the sensitive nature of Garbage and the need for non-conventional methods of getting the film out there. I have been following Wide for a while and am looking forward to working with them for the first time on a film as bold as Garbage.”

    Wide president Loïc Magneron added: “Even though the film is set in India, there is obviously something universal about this strong statement made on violence against women, especially in this day and age.”

    Oddjoint is Q’s own production company, while Karma Entertainment & Media LLP was founded by Shaailesh R Singh and director Hansal Mehta

  • Tax adjustments bring Balaji Telefilms’ Q3 numbers back in the black

    Tax adjustments bring Balaji Telefilms’ Q3 numbers back in the black

    BENGALURU: Tax adjustments of Rs 31.38 crore returned consolidated profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 24.82 crore for Balaji Telefilms Ltd (Balaji Telefilms) for the quarter ended 31 December 2017 (Q3 2018, the quarter under review). The company had reported consolidated net loss after tax of Rs 1.86 crore for the corresponding year ago quarter (Q3 2017) and net loss of Rs 13.84 crore for the immediate trailing quarter (Q2 2018). The company reported operating loss (negative EBITDA) of Rs 7.08 crore in Q3 2018 as compared with operating loss of Rs 10.58 crore in Q3 2017.

    Overall, the company reported higher realisation per programming hour of Rs 0.33 crore for Q3 2017 as against Rs 0.32 crore in Q2 2018. However, due to a 32 per cent year-on-year (yoy) decline and a 25 per cent quarter-on-quarter (qoq) decline in commissioned programmes, the company’s segment revenue decreased. Along with declines in its films and digital segments, Balaji’s consolidated revenue for the quarter under review declined to half yoy to Rs 65.15 crore as against Rs 130.37 crore.

    Segment Revenue

    Balaji Telefilms has three segments–commissioned programmes (CP), films and digital.

    Revenue from CP declined by 17 per cent yoy in Q3 2018 to Rs 69.47 crore from Rs 83.74 crore. CP reported 44.7 per cent higher yoy operating profit of Rs 16.59 crore for Q3 2018 as compared with Rs 11.47 crore. The film segment revenue in the quarter under review declined by 95.6 per cent yoy to Rs 0.85 crore from Rs 19.20 crore. The segment reported lower operating yoy loss of Rs 0.28 crore in Q3 2018 as against Rs 0.51 crore in Q3 2017. Balaji Telefilms’ digital segment (aka ALTBalaji) reported revenue of Rs 1.14 crore for Q3 2018 as against nil in Q3 2017. The segment’s operating loss more than doubled yoy to Rs 8.15 crore in Q3 2018 to Rs 8.76 crore from operating loss of Rs 4.35 crore.

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by Balaji Telefilms

    Balaji Telefilms’ total expenditure for Q3 2018 reduced by 25.8 per cent yoy to Rs 76.40 crore from Rs 102.98 crore. Cost of production/acquisition and telecast fees in the current quarter reduced by 2.16 per cent yoy to Rs 75.77 crore from Rs 77.37 crore. Employee benefits expense in Q3 2018 increased by 3.7 per cent yoy to Rs 6.87 crore from Rs 6.63 crore. Marketing and distribution expense in the quarter under review increased by yoy to Rs 7 crore from Rs 0.2 crore. Other expenses grew by 27.8 per cent yoy to Rs 12.08 crore from Rs 9.46 crore.

  • Excel Films launching ‘3 Storeys’

    Excel Films launching ‘3 Storeys’

    MUMBAI: Masumeh who started with hit TV series Thoda Hai Thode Ki Zaroorat Hai and Gubbare and stepped in to films with ‘Chupke Se’ and highly acclaimed ‘Maqbool’ is all set to be seen in Excel Films’ ‘3 Storeys’ directed by Arjun Mukherjee next.

    The actress will be seen returning to the Big screen after 7 years. Ask her where she has been hiding and she says, “I’ve not been hiding. In fact I have been working tirelessly on building my company, Short Circuit. Acting is a passion and it so happened that the role in 3 Storeys was everything I wanted and believed in. It really reminded me of why I began acting in the first place.” 

    Having turned entrepreneur with her video ad and digital agency, Short Circuit, Masumeh has worked and produced on 100 ads for a multitude of clients. Ask her if we would see her more in films now, she says, “I am actor by choice, because I am passionate about it. I want to take up roles where I can challenge myself and channel the passion I have for acting”.

  • ‘The Boy & the World’ to woo Indian cinephiles on FEB 9th 2018

    ‘The Boy & the World’ to woo Indian cinephiles on FEB 9th 2018

    After the success India Release of AsgharFarhadi’s 2016 Drama “The Salesman”, SUNIL DOSHI’s Alliance Media is bringing to Indian cinephilesone of the most celebrated Brazilian animation feature films “THE BOY AND THE WORLD” on 9th Feb 2018 in select cinemas in India.

    Written and directed by Ale Abreu, the film is originally from Brazil and was nominated at the 88th Academy Awards for Best Animated feature. The film was created using a mix of drawing, painting and digital animation.

    The film is a heartwarming story of a little boy Cuca who goes on an adventurous quest in search of his father and discovers a fantastic world dominated by animal-machines and strange beings. The film talks about the issues of the modern world through the eyes of this little Cuca.

    Says Mr. Sunil Doshi on why he acquired this film and the reason to bring it to quality Indian audiences “The visually thrilling film backed up with a refreshingly different storyline will enthrall younger viewers while resonating deeply with adults”.

    The film is being released in select theatres in Mumbai & Bangalore and will be expanded to other centres steadily. A detailed school contract program is being set in motion to get school children to watch this film along with their parents.

    The blueprint of Indian film business still remains quite vague as far as world cinema is concerned. However, people like Sunil Doshi who has maintained a stance of being a standalone film activist for decades make occasional waves in the otherwise mundane Fridays of India. He is the man who has brought Farhadi’s oscar-winning film to Indian theatres (subtitles in English) along with Oscar nominated Turkish Drama MUSTANG released directly onAmazon Prime & WINTER SLEEP by NuriBelgeCeylan and now brings for Indian cinephiles the much celebrated brazilian animation feature film “THE BOY & THE WORLD”which has many international awards under his novel initiative, ‘Sunil Doshi Presents’.

    Doshi’s latest venture under his company Alliance Media and Entertainment promises to bring more of world cinema to Indian multiplexes in 2018 starting with THE BOY & THE WORLD this Friday.

  • Actor Vipin Sharma in Sudhir Mishr’a Daas Dev

    Actor Vipin Sharma in Sudhir Mishr’a Daas Dev

    Actor Vipin Sharma, who made his debut as a strict father to a dyslexic child in ‘Taare Zameen Par’ will be seen as a ruthless yet vulnerable politician in his next called Daas Dev directed by Sudhir Mishra which is a modern day adaptation of Sarat Chandra’s DevDas.

    With actors Rahul Bhat, Richa Chadha and Aditi Rao Hyadri essaying the role of Dev, Paro and Chandni respectively, Vipin’s character “Ramashraya Shukla”  is loosely based on Chunni Lal but with a twist.

    Throwing light on his character, Sharma says “Daas Dev is a highly gripping film and I play an interesting role of a politician who has his own complexed notions and feels it’s absolutely fine to shed blood for the welfare of your people. An intense and a complex character indeed.”

    Set in Uttar Pradesh, with a Political backdrop, the film is about addiction, power and love.

    Contrary to original DevDas the character of Dev in Daas Dev moves from alcohol to power and he discovers that power is a far more lethal addiction.

    Das Dev is slated to releases on 9th March across the country.

  • Sharad Kelkar and Sai Tamhankar’s Marathi film Raakshas to release on 23rd february

    Sharad Kelkar and Sai Tamhankar’s Marathi film Raakshas to release on 23rd february

    – ‘Fandry’ and ‘Half Ticket’ makers collaborate on the upcoming ‘Raakshas’

    – Directed by Dnyanesh Zoting, the film stars Sharad Kelkar and Saie Tamhankar in the lead

    – The film is being touted to be one of the most awaited Marathi films of 2018

    After collaborating on acclaimed films like ‘Shala’ and ‘Fandry’, National award winning producers Vivek Kajaria and Nilesh Navalakha are uniting for this unique film under their banners, Nilesh Navalakha Arts and Holy Basil Productions. Also this time, producer – director Samit Kakkad will be joining the two as a presenter of the film under his label Samit Kakkad Films.

    The highly anticipated feature directed by Dnyanesh Zoting today launched it’s official trailer at a grand event with the entire cast and crew present, including Marathi super stars Saie Tamhankar and Sharad Kelkar. The film is set to release on February 23, sees Zoting’s childhood experiences visiting tribal areas woven into the premise of the film.

    Starring highly acclaimed actors Sai Tamhankar and Sharad Kelkar in the lead, the film also boasts a supporting cast of noted actors Rutuja Deshpande, Dayashankar Pandey, Vijay Maurya, Yakub Saeed, Purnanand Wandekar, Sakshi Vyawahare, Abhijit Zhunzarrao, Somnath Limbarkar among others.

    The story of Raakshas unfolds in a deep forest that is dark and mysterious. It shows Sai Tamhankar in search of something, a little girl who says her ‘Father has been swallowed by a monster in the Forest’.

    The mega feature ‘Raakshas’ is set to release on 23rd February across Maharashtra.

  • Garbage, A gritty socio-political drama directed by Q,the only Indian film, to premiere at Berlinale 2018

    Garbage, A gritty socio-political drama directed by Q,the only Indian film, to premiere at Berlinale 2018

    A political drama that reflects the times we are living in, Garbage, Q’s new directorial venture will be premiering at Panorama, Berlinale this year.

    Produced by Shaailesh R Singh and Hansal Mehta of Karma Entertainment & Media LLP, and Q of ODDJOINT, the film tells the story of Phanishwar (Tanmay Dhanania), Nanaam (Satarupa Das) and Rami (Trimala Adhikari), who are lost in their own dark worlds, and come together only to inflict damage on each other.

    Phanishwar is a taxi driver in Goa, living with a mysterious girl, Nanaam, who he keeps in chains. When Rami, a medical student, and a victim of revenge porn leaked online by an ex-boyfriend, seeks refuge in Goa, she stumbles into the strange but placid lives of Phanishwar and Nanaam.

    What ensues is an intricate, steely drama between the characters, questioning and confronting the prevalent concepts of gender, freedom and faith, as is in India, today.

     “I see garbage as a strong metaphor of human existence. I am shocked at the level of violent patriarchy and general apathy around me. India has been changing, and sucking itself into an abyss of misunderstanding and delusion, aided strongly by mainstream religious sentiments. There’s an imminent threat of the fragile social fabric imploding and affecting everyone. Garbage is my way of trying to understand the tension’ says Q.

     “I really liked what Q narrated to us and with Garbage being the only Indian film at Panaroma Berlinale, Hansal and I are proud of our association with the film. We hope it will be liked”, says Shaailesh R Singh.

     In the world of independent cinema, Q is well known for his subversive storytelling and controversial cult films that question the established status quo. Q’s experiments with filmmaking started with vivid and potent tales of contemporary Bengali culture, both fictional and non-fictional, back in 2009. Since then his films have explored the fringes of popular culture, collaborating with producers and actors across the globe. Seven years after Gandu, one of his most well known works, Garbage is all set for its world premiere at Panorama, at the Berlin International Film Festival, which seeks out new impulses in the prevailing trends and in cinematic creation, from across the world.

  • Splash and assemblage entertainment begin production on norm of the north sequel

    Splash and assemblage entertainment begin production on norm of the north sequel

    MUMBAI: Assemblage Entertainment, the feature-film focused CGI animation studio has begun production on the sequel of 2016 theatrical feature film Norm of the North, along with Splash Entertainment, Lionsgate and Dream Factory In many first-of-its times, it is unprecedented that an independent animated feature from India is greenlit for a sequel to be watched by global audiences in 2018.

    Norm of the North, a 2016 animated comedy-adventure film was directed by Trevor Wall, with voices by Rob Schneider, Heather Graham, Ken Jeong and Bill Nighy. It was co-produced by Splash Entertainment, Assemblage Entertainment and Telegael, and distributed by Lionsgate in North America.

    The film released theatrically in North Americaon January 15, 2016 opening in over 2,400 theatres. Norm also was released theatrically in over 70 territories around the world.

    Thissequel brings together, yet again, the longstanding and dynamic partnership between two animation industry leaders, Mike Young and Madmax (AK Madhavan), renowned to have opened the shores of the Indian animation industry with the successful Emmy and BAFTA Award winning show Jakers! The Adventure of Piggley Winks in 2003.

    Mike Young’s Splash Entertainment is a leading independent animation studio and Distribution Company based in Los Angeles, and is an innovator, developer and producer of many original animated television series and movies.

    Assemblage Entertainment, in a short span of time, has delivered two full length feature films, Norm of the North, and Blinky Bill – The Movie distributed by Studio Canal. It is currently delivering its third full length 3D stereoscopic theatrical feature film scheduled for a wide release in 2018 by Open Road Films.

    Assemblage recently also worked on DreamWorks’ Trollhunters – a Netflix Original Series by legendary filmmakerGuillermo del Toro.Trollhunters received wide global acclaim and won multiple Emmy and Annie awards.

    Set up in 2013 and headquartered in Mumbai, Assemblage boasts of an award winning team 250 people including technocrats, artists and production professionals with several years of collective experience in creating world-class animation productions with major Hollywood studios and independent production companies.

    Founded by industry veteran AK Madhavan, or Madmax, as he is fondly known, is recognized in the business of media, film and entertainment as the one accredited to opening the doors of Indian animation industry to the global markets. Over the last 17 years, Max has built a strong reputation of credibility and quality in the animation industry.

    Assemblage is currently also developing its own original content in collaboration with various Hollywood content creators and producers.

  • SVF earmarks Rs 100 crore for 25 big-ticket movies

    SVF earmarks Rs 100 crore for 25 big-ticket movies

    MUMBAI: At a glittering ceremony held in West Bengal, the co-founders of SVF Entertainment Shrikant Mohta and Mahendra Soni made an ambitious declaration of producing 25 big-ticket films over the next three years (until 2020), allocating Rs 100 crore for the same–a figure unheard of in Tollywood so far.

    The announcement was made at SVF Stories, which aims at becoming an annual gathering bringing notable personalities from the industry under one roof.

    SVF co-founder & director Shrikant Mohta said, “At SVF, we have always tried to do our bit to raise the bar for Bengali cinema. Our commitment will not only aim at taking Tollywood to the next level but also serve as a platform to harness fresh young talent in the industry. In fact, with the super success of Amazon Obhijaan, we are excited and motivated to make the third part of the franchise even bigger.”

    The three-year journey will also see SVF’s first film with the brilliant filmmaker Mainak Bhowmik titled Generation Aami – a ‘coming of age’ story. Birsa Dasgupta will return with a bang with Crisscross – based on Smaran-jit Chakraborty’s best seller novel as well as Bibhaho Obhijaan– an emotional saga. And Debaloy Bhattacharya will be directing his next with a new take on Byomkesh titled Bidaay Byomkesh.

    SVF co-founder & director Mahendra Soni said “We are coming up with movies with diverse genre and themes for old and young alike. The next three years will also see many firsts – we will be expanding into Bangladesh with the release of the first film starring the Bangladeshi superstar Shakib Khan. Siraj-Ud-Daulah will be the first ever war film of Bengal, will also see the debut of new talents and there is plenty in store for the audience to look forward to.”The first edition saw leading celebrities like National Award winning directors Aparna Sen, Srijit Mukherjee and Bengali superstars like Prosenjit Chatterjee, Dev, Abir Chattopadhyay and others attending the event.

    The exhaustive list of 25 films are as follows:-

    Film (Director)

    AscheAbarShabor  (Arindam Sil)

    Finally Bhalobasha (Anjan Dutt)

    Total Dadgiiri (Pathikrit Basu)

    Generation Ami (Mainak Bhowmick)

    Ami AsboPhire (Anjan Dutt)

    KakababurProtyaborton (Srijit Mukherjee)

    Uma (Srijit Mukherjee)

    Two Untitled movies – starring Ankush

    Untitled starring Shakib Khan &Nusrat Jahan  (Rajib)

    Two Untitled movies – starring Yash

    Byomkesh Gotro (Arindam Sil)

    Siraj – ud – Daulah – (Raj Chakraborty)

    Ek Je Chilo Raja (Srijit Mukherjee)

    Feluda – (Sandip Ray)

    Professor Shonku O El Dorado (Sandip Ray)

    Tong Ling – (Raj Chakraborty)

    Untitled starring Bonny & Rittika (Rajib)

    Bidaye Byomkesh – starring Abir & Sohini – (Debaloy Bhattacharya)

    GuptodhanerSandhane (Dhrubo Banerjee)

    Ghare O Baire -(Aparna Sen)

    Crisscross (Birsa Dasgupta)

    BibahoObhijaan – (Birsa Dasgupta)

    Shankar’s New Adventure – starring Dev – ( Kamaleswar Mukherjee)

    Also Read: 1000 hours of original content a year is our target: Hoichoi’s Vishnu Mohta

    #hoyejak: We used all SVF properties to promote Hoichoi, says Vishnu Mohta

    Bengali film Posto to premiere on Hoichoi before satellite TV

     

     

  • Eros International inks co-production pact with Drishyam Films

    Eros International inks co-production pact with Drishyam Films

    Mumbai: Eros International Media Ltd (Eros International) has signed a four-film co-production deal with leading production house, Drishyam Films.

    According to Eros International’s release to the BSE, the first of the four projects, titled Kaamyaab starring Sanjay Mishra along with Deepak Dobriyal and directed by National-Award winning filmmaker Hardik Mehta, has already gone on the floor and commenced shooting on November 25.

    In 2018, Eros and Drishyam will jointly produce four films “to pave the way for presenting a new wave of cinema that the companies have come to stand for.”

    Speaking on the alliance, Jyoti Deshpande, Group CEO, Eros International said, “We feel the kind of cinema Drishyam makes and the agenda we have for the next five years at Eros perfectly match. At Eros, we believe that our future slate should have a mix of blockbusters such as Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Bajirao Mastani as well as beautiful stories made on smaller budgets like Aligarh, Nil Battey Sannata, and Newton. We’ve already started our relationship with Drishyam by distributing Newton, Rukh, and Kadvi Hawa and with this new co-production slate, we are hoping to present some very compelling stories to our audiences worldwide.”

    Manish Mundra, founder of Drishyam Films added, “We are very excited to associate with a leading studio like Eros who are backing our kind of content-driven cinema, and happy that our stories have found a home here. It’s heartening that they have come forward to not only distribute our films but also create a vision to tell stories together. We at Drishyam have built a brand of cinema that we are very proud of and we hope the association with Eros will take our films to a much wider audience.”