MUMBAI: Shemaroo entertainment, along with the local distributor and SIFAM (Stitching Indian Films & Music), has seized 50,000 DVDs at Brussels Airport.
Of these 50,000 DVDs, approximately 25,000 DVDs are of the week-old film Mere Baap Pehle Aap, produced by Shemaroo and still running in cinemas worldwide.
The other DVDs, which were seized at the spot, include song compilations and various other movies.
The information about the DVDs at the Brussels Airport was obtained with the help of Indian Film Exporters Association and Shemaroo’s sources.
As per Brussels airport customs, every month a consignment of 20,000 – 30,000 DVDs land. Since there are no claimants or complaints, the authorities in spite of having the knowledge of these DVDs being pirated, do not act upon.
A company based out of Hong Kong apparently manufactures these pirated DVDs, which are later exported worldwide.
As per industry experts, for every new film, in the first week itself around 35,000 to 40,000 pirated DVDs are distributed in Europe, where the entry points are Frankfurt and Brussels primarily.
As Europe in size is a very big market for Bollywood titles, pirates first attack this market rather than USA and UK among others.
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