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Tag: A R Murugadoss

  • FoxStar India opens cuckoo to solid start

    FoxStar India opens cuckoo to solid start

    MUMBAI: FoxStar Studios’ Cuckoo has opened strong in its opening weekend making it the highest grossing opening for a Tamil film without a big star cast in the last five years. Co-produced with The Next Big Film, Cuckoo is the fourth hit for Fox Star in the Tamil market. 

     

    Previous hits include Raja Rani, Vathikuchi and Engaeyum Eppothum (US grosses waiting for Dmitry). Cuckoo is a heartwarming love story between a blind couple.  

     

    Director Raju Murugan said: “I am grateful to the fraternity and the audiences for such a warm reception to the film. I could have never imagined this love and affection and such a huge success at the box office, for a film that was being directed by a debutant and did not boast of any big star power. I am thankful to Fox Star Studios and Next Big Films for showing faith in me and in my two powerhouse performers – Dinesh and Malavika, for coming up one of with the most memorable performances of 2014!” 

     

    Cuckoo is also Fox Star Studios first film post its successful three film deal with A R Murugadoss. And Murugadoss will be directing a Hindi film – Holiday – for the studio next. 

     

    Fox Star Studios CEO Vijay Singh added: “With Cuckoo, we, along with our co producers, The Next Big Film, have been able to demonstrate that content really is the king at the box office. With Raja Rani and now Cuckoo, we have given the industry two new talented directors, Atlee and Raju. With four back to back hits under our belt, three of which were in joint production with one of the giants of Tamil cinema, A R Murugadoss, we are now looking forward to some exciting times ahead, as our next Mundasuppati, in partnership with Thirukumaran Entertainment, gets ready for a release soon.” 

     

    Next up for Fox Star is its Hindi release Hawaa Hawaai directed by Amole Gupte (post Stanley Ka Dabba’s criticial and commercial success) slated for a release on 9 May.   

     

    Having considerably scaled up in the Hindi film market, Fox Star recently announced a four film deal with Vishesh films (on the back of Raaz 3, Jannat 2 and Murder 3‘s success) and has forged alliances with Pooja Entertainment and Films, Phantom Films, Illuminati Films and Endemol India.   

     

    Fox International Productions president Sanford Panitch said: “Fox Star India continues to use its strength in choosing projects, distribution and marketing of both Hollywood and Indian films, and in sustaining lasting partnerships to great results.”

  • Fox Star Studios & A.R. Murugadoss score a hattrick in Tamil cinema with Raja Rani

    Fox Star Studios & A.R. Murugadoss score a hattrick in Tamil cinema with Raja Rani

    Fox Star Studios and A R Murugadoss’ latest venture, Atlee’s Raja Rani starring Arya and Nayanthara, has clocked a domestic weekend of 12.2 crore according to the production house, making it the fourth biggest opening of the year for a Tamil film and the biggest weekend ever for actor Arya. The film has also set the overseas box office ablaze and has amassed a whopping $800,000 over the weekend. Infact, the film has become India’s third highest weekend grosser in Malaysia.

    Raja Rani’s success also marks a hat trick for Fox Star Studios and A R Murugadoss’s partnership that started in 2011 with breakaway hit Engaeyum Eppothum. While the film has found tremendous critical and popular acclaim for its content, what sets it apart from any other previous Tamil films in recent times is the sheer innovation of the marketing campaign.  

    Talking about Raja Rani’s success, debutant director Atlee says, “I am absolutely thrilled and really thankful to the audiences and the critics for such a warm reception to the film. I am also humbled by the response to the film from the family audiences for whom I had primarily conceived this film; I believe after a long time, even during the early morning shows, family audiences are thronging the theatres.”

    A.R. Murugadoss, who partnered with Fox Star Studios to produce this venture, adds, “My production partnership with Fox Star Studios has been excellent. The company has a global presence which has helped to exploit the films very well. Fox and I had decided right at the start that we want to produce good movies with good messages and Atlee’s script had all those qualities. I am happy the audiences are loving it.”  

    Fox Star Studios CEO Vijay Singh concludes, “It’s been a fantastic record-breaking run for Raja Rani! Along with A.R. Murugadoss, we had decided we would back good scripts and new talents in Tamil rather than rushing into multiple acquisitions and releases. Today, I am happy to say that our strategy has paid off handsomely. In marketing, we were keen to bring our learnings from Hollywood & Bollywood and apply them in the Tamil market. Kudos to the Fox marketing team and Atlee for coming up with innovative ideas like the marriage invitation invite and the first-time ever roadblock of the trailer which created a buzz for the film beyond its starcast. But all the marketing efforts are no use without good content. And director Atlee has crafted a film which is hard to believe is a debut film. We look forward to working with him on his next film too! We have had a dream run so far in Tamil cinema ever since we made our debut in 2011 and as we move ahead, we are looking at an exciting slate of breakthrough cinema with CV Kumar in 2014!”

    Fox Star Studios’ next venture will be Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Bullett Raja, it will be released on 29 November.

  • Fox Star Studios and A R Murugadoss Raja Rani to release worldwide on 27 Sept

    Fox Star Studios and A R Murugadoss Raja Rani to release worldwide on 27 Sept

    Production and distribution giant Fox Star Studios and film maker and producer A R Murugadoss’ third Tamil venture, Raja Rani will have a worldwide release on 27 September. Produced in association with The Next Big Film Venture and directed by Atlee, the film toplines a stellar ensemble cast led by Arya, Nayanthara and featuring Jai , Nazriya, Santhanam, Sathyan and Sathyaraj making it one of the most awaited films of the year.

     

     The film’s music set by G V Prakash is already a rage and has contributed tremendously in creating a massive buzz about the film – across all age groups.  With the censor giving it a U Certificate, the film is set to capture the space of the biggest family entertainer of the year.

     

    A R Murugadoss who along with Fox Star Studios, has given two break away hits, Engaeyum Eppothum and Vathikuchi, in 2011 and 2013, is looking forward to sharing the film with the cinema lovers. He says, “I have full faith Raja Rani will get a thumbs up from the audiences. I was overwhelmed and laughed and cried in parts through the film. I am really proud of Atlee for directing such a heartwarming film and the actors for coming out with such terrific performances.”

     

    Fox Star Studios CEO Vijay Singh adds, “Raja Rani is our third film with A R Murugadoss. While we are taking our relationship with him to Hindi cinema as well, I can vouch that with Raja Rani we have created a film that will entertain everyone. It has one of the best musical scores coming out of the Tamil industry in recent times and I am confident that audiences will endorse Raja Rani’s love story whole heartedly!”

     

    The film is set to have one of the widest releases for a Tamil film in Tamil Nadu and rest of India and world through the distribution might of Fox Star Studios.

  • A R Murugadoss to direct Fox Star Studios next Hindi film

    A R Murugadoss to direct Fox Star Studios next Hindi film

    MUMBAI: After storming the Tamil film industry in 2011, with their three film deal,celebrated film maker AR Murugadoss and production and distribution giant, Fox Star Studios are all set to take their partnership to the next level.

    A R Murugadoss has been signed by Fox Star Studios to direct a Hindi film in 2014. And this, even as the third film of their three film deal in Tamil, Atlee Kumar‘s Raja Rani is ready for a release in September 2013.

    The partnership between Fox Star Studios and A R Murugadoss kick started with breakaway hit,Engaeyum Eppothum in 2011 and was followed by power packed action entertainer Vathikuchi in March 2013.

    Talking about his association with the studio, A R Murugadoss says,‘‘ Working with a studio like Fox Star Studios, has been a good experience for me. We are moving our partnership to the next stage now. I am happy to confirm that l will be directing a Hindi film with Fox next year. Besides Tamil, we are also looking forward to moving our production partnership in Hindi market to give a chance to young directors with strong scripts.”

    Fox Star Studio chief executive officer Vijay Singh adds, “We are delighted to have AR Murugadoss helm a Hindi film for us as a director. We have had a fantastic partnership with him since 2011. Murugadoss is one of the finest storytellers, a gifted film maker and a professional producer and our association with his banner has ensured a great innings for us in Tamil cinema. We are looking forward to working with Murugadoss in Hindi cinema as well and promise a film to watch out for!”

  • Bhansali acquires remaking rights of Ramana

    Bhansali acquires remaking rights of Ramana

    MUMBAI: Sanjay Leela Bhansali has clinched the remaking rights of the 2002 Tamil blockbuster Ramana that has a strong anti-corruption message.


    Several prominent producers were vying for the Bollywood rights of the film that would have had a significant effect at a time when Anna Hazare was hogging the limelight with his anti-corruption drive.


    The film will be directed by A R Murugadoss, who is said to have already approached Shah Rukh Khan to play the lead.


    It may be recollected that Bhansali’s on-the set film Rowdy Rathod is a remake of the Telugu film Vikramarkurdu that features Vijaykanth in the lead. It was also remade in Telugu and in Kannada.

  • Murugadoss mulls Hindi remake of Ramanna

    Murugadoss mulls Hindi remake of Ramanna

    MUMBAI:Director A.R. Murugadoss, known for the hit film Ghajini, is in plans to remake his Tamil hit Ramanna in Hindi.


    The film is about a college professor who decides to abolish corruption with the help of his ex-students who work in various government offices. The reason behind this powerful decision is told in flashback.


    It is said that not many were interested to make a film of that nature. But now that people have been awakened about corruption due to the Anna Hazare‘s India Against Corruption movement, filmmakers want to encash on the situation and are keen to give the film a Hindi makeover.


    After the Tamil version became a hit, the film was in Telugu as Tagore and in Kannada as Vishnu Sena.