Hindi

BBC Films, Pact ink deal with changes

Published

18 years ago

May 15, 2008

MUMBAI: UK pubcaster The BBC announced some key changes to the deal terms offered to UK film producers, a move that has been warmly welcomed by Pact.

The changes are intended to support one of the stated intentions behind the Government‘s implementation of the UK Tax Credit system – namely to increase UK producers‘ stakeholding in the films they make and ensure that film revenues in part flow back into supporting a sustainable film industry in the UK.

When the UK Tax Credit was introduced in 2007, the BBC, the UK Film Council and Film Four signed a joint statement to the effect that, wherever possible, any tax credit that was claimed on a film and used to fund the budget would be treated in the finance plan as if it were equity funding provided directly by the UK producer – it would give the producer a proportionate share of initial receipts alongside the public funders and the other equity financiers.

As many films do not reach the net profit stage, this was seen as an important way to push the producer‘s stake-holding in the film higher up the chain and give a financial return on a par with other investors in the film.

In reality, this has proved hard for the BBC and producers to achieve in all cases.

The key change the BBC is making, therefore, is to create a corridor for the producer from the BBC‘s own equity recoupment. This will apply wherever the tax credit has not been treated as producer‘s equity even though the funding has been used to help finance the film.

The corridor will be a standard 30 per cent of the actual equity recoupment the BBC receives on a film and is intended to put the BBC back into the position it would have been in if the tax credit had been treated as equity funding from the producer.

The BBC and Pact have also agreed to a number of other changes: The BBC‘s broadcast licence in the UK will be for a maximum of 15 years. After five years, if the BBC has no further plans to transmit then either the BBC or the producer may look to exploit those rights elsewhere in the UK, sharing profits 70/30 if the BBC is unrecouped and 50/50 if the BBC‘s equity has been repaid.

The BBC is also dropping several of its standard requirements around development, in particular the charge of a 50 per cent premium on development costs incurred to date if the project is turned down by the BBC and picked up by another financier. The requirements for trust accounts at development stage will also be abolished.

BBC‘s head of operations and business affairs for fiction Claire Evans said, “A healthy and sustainable UK Film industry is of real value to the licence fee payer and the BBC therefore has an important role to play in UK film. We believe these changes will deliver tangible benefits to UK producers by helping to significantly recalibrate the producer‘s place in the value chain of UK film production and by unlocking the residual value of the films we have helped to create”.

BBC Fiction controller Jane Tranter said, “Six months ago we created the new Films Board at the BBC and announced an increase in funding to ?12 million a year. Together with this announcement, these measures demonstrate the BBC‘s commitment to British Film. The development slate is in rude health and we are feeling ambitious and excited for the future.”

Pact, Feature Film vice chair Andrea Calderwood said, “We‘re delighted that the BBC has shown the way forward with this initiative, which will make a real difference to British film producers. Independent producers put a lot of investment – of commitment as well as money – into their films to make them happen, and this will give them the chance to make a proper return on their investment.

“Providing a genuine share of revenues to producers of successful films creates a real partnership between the BBC and producers to support a sustainable British film industry, and allows us to work together to build up the quality and range of British films.”

BBC Films has an annual budget of ?12 million per annum (increased from ?10 million from the previous BBC Charter period) and is an established and credible force within the UK and international film industries.

Recent films have included Eastern Promises, The Other Boleyn Girl, The History Boys.

The remit of BBC Films includes the active development of a broad range of film projects supporting both new and established talent from the initial scripting stage through to raising finance, resourcing, casting and eventually, production.

Pact is the UK trade association that represents the commercial interests of independent feature film, television, children‘s and animation and interactive media companies. It is the largest representative group of screen-based content producers in the UK and the largest trade association in the film, television and interactive media sectors.

Hindi

Boney Kapoor acquires remake rights of Tamil political satire Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil

Strong word-of-mouth turns Pongal satire into remake pick

Published

1 week ago

February 9, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: A Pongal release, a village satire and a theatre visit in Coimbatore have turned into Boney Kapoor’s latest acquisition. The producer has secured the remake rights to the Tamil political satire Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil (TTT), a film that has been enjoying a strong theatrical run powered by word-of-mouth and praise for its sharp, rooted writing.

Set in a rural milieu, the story follows a panchayat leader thrown into disarray when a wedding and a funeral land on the same day. What unfolds is a swirl of satire and humour that skewers local politics, power games, bruised egos and family tensions, all anchored in the textures of everyday village life.

Kapoor first encountered the film earlier this year while in Coimbatore for the Celebrity Cricket League. With time to spare, he caught a screening at a local theatre. That viewing proved decisive. According to sources, the narrative style, performances and the film’s balance of political commentary and comedy caught his attention.

Interest quickly turned into intent. Kapoor reached out to the producers soon after to explore a remake. Talks gathered pace over the following weeks and came to a head last Friday at the film’s success party in Chennai, where Kapoor joined the celebrations and continued negotiations with the makers.

By the end of the evening, the deal was sealed, with Kapoor formally acquiring the remake rights.

For an industry constantly mining regional cinema for the next crossover story, the move is telling. A small-town satire with local flavour has found a national backer. And if Kapoor’s instincts hold, a tale born in one village may soon echo far beyond it.

Hindi

Fans take centre stage as Zee Cine awards turns the spotlight around

Published

2 weeks ago

February 7, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: When the applause gets louder than the dialogue, you know the fans have taken over. That was the unmistakable mood as Zee formally announced the Zee Cine Awards 2026, flipping the script to celebrate not just cinema’s stars, but the people who cheer them on the loudest.

The 24th edition of the awards marks a fresh chapter in Zee’s long-standing relationship with Hindi cinema, anchored in its fan-first philosophy, Fantertainment. This year’s theme, ‘Yeh Pal Hai Fans Ka’, reinforces a simple idea: cinema’s most powerful moments are shaped as much by audiences as by actors on screen. Presented by Maruti Suzuki, the awards aim to turn fandom into the main event.

The announcement, held in Mumbai, was anything but a routine press conference. Bollywood stars Akshay Kumar, Tamannaah Bhatia, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonam Bajwa, Aparshakti Khurana, composer Mithoon and singer Palak Muchhal joined fans to kick off the celebrations, turning the launch into a high-voltage, participative spectacle.

Staying true to the theme, fans didn’t just watch the announcement, they drove it. Akshay Kumar took the lead, pulling fellow stars on stage and energising the room, before the unveiling of a live LED Fan Meter. Powered purely by audience cheers, the rising meter culminated in the reveal of the Zee Cine Awards 2026 ground event date, announced in unison with fans, blurring the line between performer and spectator.

The momentum continued as Tamannaah Bhatia, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonam Bajwa and Aparshakti Khurana recreated iconic hook steps, joined by Mithoon and Palak Muchhal for music-led interactions. Games, spontaneous performances and playful banter kept the focus firmly on shared moments, underscoring the evolving bond between cinema and its audience.

Beyond the launch, the awards will roll out as a multi-platform journey across television, digital, print and fan-led experiences. The aim is sustained engagement from the first announcement to awards night cementing fandom as a cultural force rather than a footnote.

Commenting on the milestone edition Zee head of advertisement revenue, broadcast & digital Laxmi Shetty said the 24th Zee Cine Awards continue to draw strength from the network’s omni-channel ecosystem, reflecting how audiences consume content today across TV, digital and social platforms. She noted that long-standing brand associations, including Maruti Suzuki’s three-year partnership and support from brands such as Hell Energy, underline the platform’s scale, trust and cultural relevance.

As Zee Cine Awards 2026 gathers pace, one thing is clear: this year, the loudest cheers won’t just echo in the auditorium, they’ll shape the show itself.

Hindi

Prime Video to stream Don’t Be Shy, produced by Alia Bhatt

Published

3 weeks ago

January 30, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: Prime Video has found its next feel-good original, and it comes with a healthy dose of heart, humour and youthful chaos. The streaming platform has announced Don’t Be Shy, a coming-of-age romantic comedy produced by Alia Bhatt and Shaheen Bhatt under their banner, Eternal Sunshine Productions.

Written and directed by Sreeti Mukerji, the film follows Shyamili ‘Shy’ Das, a 20-year-old who believes her life is neatly mapped out until it suddenly is not. What follows is a relatable tumble through friendship, love and the awkward art of growing up, when plans unravel and certainty gives way to self-discovery.

The project is co-produced by Grishma Shah and Vikesh Bhutani, with music composed by Ram Sampath, adding to the film’s promise of warmth and energy. Prime Video describes the story as light-hearted yet emotionally grounded, with a strong female-led narrative at its core.

Prime Video India director and head of originals Nikhil Madhok, said the platform was delighted to collaborate with Eternal Sunshine on a story that blends sincerity with humour. He noted that the film’s fresh writing, earnest characters and infectious music make it an easy, engaging watch for audiences well beyond its young adult setting.

For Alia Bhatt, Don’t Be Shy reflects the kind of storytelling Eternal Sunshine set out to champion. She said the film stood out for its honesty, its coming-of-age perspective and Mukerji’s passion, which she felt was deeply woven into the narrative. Bhatt also praised Prime Video for supporting distinctive voices and bold creative choices.

With its breezy tone and familiar emotional beats, Don’t Be Shy aims to charm viewers whether they are rom-com regulars or simply in the mood for a warm, unpretentious story about life refusing to stick to the plan.