ITV

Tag: Amitabh Bachchan

  • Mauj and Gaming Hungama unveil ‘Baabul’

    Mauj and Gaming Hungama unveil ‘Baabul’

    MUMBAI: BR Films forthcoming movie Baabul is being launched in form of a game, simultaneously on mobile and online games. Mauj is assigned for the mobile gaming and Gaming Humgama for online games.

    The game was launched by the Babul star Amitabh Bachchan.

    Commenting on the launch Amitabh Bachchan said, “The Babul game will definitely generate more interest in the film. Its completely new and unique platform to Bollywood as such games based on films involve the audiences actively, while also opening new revenue stream for the industry.”

    Hungama MD and CEO Neeraj Roy said, “Gaming is one of the fastest growing avenues on the World Wide Web and is already the in thing among the youth of the country. There is huge potential for Hindi films to explore gaming as a promotional vehicle. Worldwide gaming is an integral part of the entertainment industry and will become a US$ 1 Billion industry in India by 2010″

    BR Films business head Sanjay Bhutani added ” The game basically engages the player in the brand, the more he playes the deeper he gets involved in the product, which is very good for the promotion of the film.”

    About the game

    On Gaming Hungama

    Player can play the game as Salman or John. He needs to find Rani Mukherjee who is hidden behind a door. There are in all eight characters including Rani and behind every door there can be any character, asserts an official release.

    The game would be available on www.gaminghungama.com.

    The Mobile Game

    There are two mobile games that Mauj has launched, Babul-The Garland and Baabul-Shaadi Ki Rasam.

    In the former once can choose to be John or Salman and has to try to garland Rani whereas the latter is based on finding coins in the water bowl.

    The games can be downloaded by sending SMS BAABUL to 7007.The content will be available through both SMS and WAP platforms, adds the release.

  • Bachchan to announce IIFA Weekend at House of Commons

    Bachchan to announce IIFA Weekend at House of Commons

    MUMBAI: On Wednesday 8 November, the House of Commons will play host to the official announcement of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Weekend and the IDEA IIFA Awards in Yorkshire in June 2007.

    IIFA’s Brand Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan will be speaking at the reception alongside dignitaries, including Secretary of State, Tessa Jowell, Leader of the House, Jack Straw, and the High Commissioner of India to the UK, Kamlesh Sharma, to celebrate the return of the IIFA Weekend to the UK, informs an official release.

    As the leading location for investment in Europe, dignitaries will be speaking about the economic benefit for both national and regional business partnerships with India. One of the key members of the Indian delegation is Sanjeev Aga, president of Birla Nuevo, one of India’s leading investors in Britain. Additionally, Judith Donovan, chairperson for the Yorkshire Tourism Board and Tom Riordan from Yorkshire Forward will be announcing details of IIFA Weekend and the anticipated impact for Yorkshire business and tourism, the release adds.

    Speaking about the launch of the Idea IIFA Awards, Idea Cellular MD Sanjeev Aga says, “After the phenomenal success of the Idea IIFA Awards in Dubai, Idea is eagerly looking forward to the Idea IIFA Awards in Yorkshire. IIFA offers us the best platform to demonstrate the true essence of mobile and entertainment convergence. With IDEA IIFA, our privileged customer will have access to specially created merchandise, contests, video and MMS downloads and several other value added services. Only Idea can and will take you there.”

    Bachchan, who was voted BBC’s Superstar of the Millennium in 2000 pushing behind Hollywood’s biggest stars and heartthrobs, will focus on the rising popularity of Indian cinema as a major global business, with an estimated global audience for the IIFA Awards in 2007 of over 480 million.

    Now in its eighth year, the IIFA Weekend has previously visited Amsterdam, Dubai, Singapore, London, Malaysia and South Africa. As a direct consequence of the IIFA celebrations, tourism and business investment to each of these destinations has increased tremendously, making a major impact. Yorkshire was successful in its bid to attract the event organizers attention and the bid presentation was supported by prime minister Tony Blair.

    The House of Commons launch event will be followed by a five-city launch the next day in the company of the Mayors of York, Hull, Leeds, Sheffield and Bradford, who will flag off the IIFA Weekend announcement along with Mr. Amitabh Bachchan. The five-city launch will be held at the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television (NMPFT), Bradford.

    Previous IIFA Weekend events have hosted popular celebrities including Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Shekhar Kapur, Ashok Amritraj, Jean Claude Van Damme, Bo Derek, Aishwarya Rai, Shah Rukh Khan and others. IIFA Weekend celebrations, which were launched at the Millennium Dome in 2000, have travelled across South Africa, Malaysia, Singapore, Amsterdam and Dubai. IIFA Weekend Yorkshire marks the return of the celebration which has already become one of the world’s most-watched and sought after event.

  • Star India locks in ‘KBC’ rights for next five years

    Star India locks in ‘KBC’ rights for next five years

    MUMBAI: Star India’s iconic gameshow Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) is coming back – and for another five seasons, mind it.

    The return of KBC was revealed this evening by Star Entertainment India CEO Sameer Nair at an Ad Club function in Mumbai. Nair disclosed that Star had locked in the rights to KBC for a period of five years (2007 to 2011). Nair also stated that Star was in talks to sign on an advertiser who would commit to all five seasons of the show.

    Star Plus first launched KBC in 2000 with superstar Amitabh Bachchan in the anchor’s seat. The tremendous success of the show inspired the channel to bring it back in August 2005, with the second season KBC Dviteeya. The game show has been delivering good numbers for the channel before it got pulled out after 61 episodes due to Bachchan’s illness. Big B, who originally committed to shoot 85 episodes, was unable to continue shooting after his hospitalisation.

    Celador, the UK-based format producer, owns the original version of KBC, ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire’.

    The Big Q of course is whether Star will be able to “lock kiya jaye” the Big B. That looks highly unlikely at this juncture so the next Big Q is who could be the possible choice to step into Bachchan’s considerably large (not just in terms of foot size) shoes?

  • Zee Cinema celebrates 100 weeks of ‘Shanivaar Ki Raat Amitabh ke Saath’

    Zee Cinema celebrates 100 weeks of ‘Shanivaar Ki Raat Amitabh ke Saath’

    MUMBAI: Zee Cinema completes a 100 weeks with Amitabh Bachchan on Friday, 21 October. The channel’s popular property Shanivaar Ki Raat Amitabh ke Saath has been running for the past three years and is now into its third edition – Shanivaar Ki Raat Amitabh ke Saath – Relive the Magic.

    Shanivaar Ki Raat Amitabh ke Saath – Relive the Magic takes us down the memory lane, unfolding those nostalgic moments of the legend and his vocation, states an official release from Zee Cinema. The channel will play the best of Amitabh’s scenes, dialogues, songs, snippets etc specially tracked, edited and packaged for this special celebration from 11 October to 21 October as part of the celebrations.

    On 21 October, Zee Cinema will feature a special segment on Amitabh – ‘100 not out’ at 8 pm. This special feature will chronicle Amitabh’s journey from Allahabad to profiling the man behind the Superstar. Viewers will also get a chance to participate in a contest about the Big B and win a biography on Amitabh Bachchan, the release adds.

  • Adlabs Films finds Synergy in equity deal

    MUMBAI: The Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG)-backed Adlabs Films is set to formally make a foray into the television business.

    According to capital market sources, Adlabs Films is poised to pick up a sizeable equity stake in Siddharth and Anita Basu’s production house Synergy Communications Pvt Ltd.

    Sources close to the development, however, said that it is still not clear whether the stake being picked up is 51 per cent or higher.
    While Adlabs expressed ignorance of the deal when contacted by Indiantelevision.com, Synergy Communications refused to entertain any query on the issue.

    However, market sources said that a valuation of Synergy Communications has been pegged between Rs 470 million to Rs 500 million.

    The scrip of Adlabs Films Ltd closed on 6 September at Rs 332.10 after opening at Rs 332 on Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). The scrip reached an intra-day high of Rs 337.50, probably riding on the information of its radio division slated to roll-out FM operations in about four to six weeks time.

    It must be reiterated here that Adlabs Films CMD Manmohan Shetty had earlier confirmed to Indiantelevision.com that the company was looking at taking a controlling equity stake in a production house.

    Though Shetty had refused to divulge any names at that time, he had admitted, “All that I can say is that it (the targeted production house) is not a listed company and produces three to four shows with a good balance sheet.”
    Adlabs has been funding a few TV production companies and has chalked out eight projects with various producers who will be making programmes for TV channels.

    Synergy Communications, producers of Kaun Banega Crorepati or KBC (an Indian version of the popular western game show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire), is presently working on Jhalak Dikhla Jaa (a local adaption of Dancing With The Stars) for Sony.

    KBC, hosted by Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan, first started airing in 2000 on Star Plus and created such a national hysteria that it changed the fortunes of Star India and put it in a leadership position that’s still being maintained.

    Synergy was started by ace quizmaster Basu and his wife after the gentleman became a household name in India by hosting the very popular Quiz Time on Doordarshan in the pre-cable television days.

     

  • Branded ‘Big’, ADAG’s FM venture targets 12 October launch

    Branded ‘Big’, ADAG’s FM venture targets 12 October launch

    MUMBAI: The Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) is entering the final stages of preparation for its “Big” bang entry into the FM radio field.

    The Ambani brothers are known for doing everything on a big scale and it is certainly no different in this case as younger brother Anil’s ADAG gets set to launch its 92.7 FM stations across India. It is only fitting, therefore, that ADAG is launching ahead of the Diwali festive season under the brand name Big Radio.

    According to sources, the group is targeting 12 October for the launch of its radio station in cities where the common infrastructure network exists. This includes Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Jaipur and Surat.

    Big Radio is expected to be on air in Mumbai first, with a fast-paced rollout in the other cities where the common infrastructure exists. The teams for the radio stations are already in place with radio jockeys and other engineers hired and ready.

    Big Radio will be facing a phalanx of established players when it launches services in Mumbai. The group will have to compete with players such as the Times Group’s Radio Mirchi, Radio City, Red FM and Radio One (Formerly was known as Go FM), who have been in this game for over five years.

    One advantage Big Radio will be looking to leverage upon is the massive mobile phone user subscriber base that sister concern and telecom major Reliance Infocomm provides. Big Radio will be introducing a lot of interactive features with the specific aim of building a community of cell users hooked in to the station, industry sources have told Indiantelevision.com.

    Another “Big” advantage ADAG is banking on is that it has the ultimate brand icon in the “Big B” Amitabh Bachchan endorsing the station. If ever there was a case of the brand and the ambassador fitting to a T, it is this.

    ADAG originally secured its FM licence through Adlabs Films Ltd (AFL) in which it has a controlling stake. But post the demerger of the radio business, the company has transferred its FM operating units to Reliance Unicom Ltd.

    Big Radio will manage 45 FM stations. The frequencies were bought out for approximately Rs 1.60 billion. Initially, the company had bagged the licence for 57 frequencies but had to surrender the licence for 13 cities as per the norms, which do not allow one single company to hold more than 15 per cent of the total allotted frequencies.

  • Branded ‘Big’, ADAG’s FM venture targets 12 October launch

    MUMBAI: The Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) is entering the final stages of preparation for its “Big” bang entry into the FM radio field.

    The Ambani brothers are known for doing everything on a big scale and it is certainly no different in this case as younger brother Anil’s ADAG gets set to launch its 92.7 FM stations across India. It is only fitting, therefore, that ADAG is launching ahead of the Diwali festive season under the brand name Big Radio.

    According to sources, the group is targeting 12 October for the launch of its radio station in cities where the common infrastructure network exists. This includes Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Jaipur and Surat.

    Big Radio is expected to be on air in Mumbai first, with a fast-paced rollout in the other cities where the common infrastructure exists. The teams for the radio stations are already in place with radio jockeys and other engineers hired and ready.

    Big Radio will be facing a phalanx of established players when it launches services in Mumbai. The group will have to compete with players such as the Times Group’s Radio Mirchi, Radio City, Red FM and Radio One (Formerly was known as Go FM), who have been in this game for over five years.

    One advantage Big Radio will be looking to leverage upon is the massive mobile phone user subscriber base that sister concern and telecom major Reliance Infocomm provides. Big Radio will be introducing a lot of interactive features with the specific aim of building a community of cell users hooked in to the station, industry sources have told Indiantelevision.com.

    Another “Big” advantage ADAG is banking on is that it has the ultimate brand icon in the “Big B” Amitabh Bachchan endorsing the station. If ever there was a case of the brand and the ambassador fitting to a T, it is this.

    ADAG originally secured its FM licence through Adlabs Films Ltd (AFL) in which it has a controlling stake. But post the demerger of the radio business, the company has transferred its FM operating units to Reliance Unicom Ltd.

    Big Radio will manage 45 FM stations. The frequencies were bought out for approximately Rs 1.60 billion. Initially, the company had bagged the licence for 57 frequencies but had to surrender the licence for 13 cities as per the norms, which do not allow one single company to hold more than 15 per cent of the total allotted frequencies.

  • Hungama Mobile & TSeries release ‘Don’ music on itunes

    Hungama Mobile & TSeries release ‘Don’ music on itunes

    MUMBAI: Hungama Mobile, a popular aggregator of Indian entertainment content and TSeries, have announced the availability of the music of Farhan Akhtar’s eagerly-awaited Don for purchase on the iTunes Music Store (www.itunes.com).

    This is the first time in the history of Bollywood that the soundtrack of a movie is being made available online on the same day as the official launch of its music, and prior to public availability of its music on CD. The soundtrack of the film will be featured on the World Page on iTunes, informs an official release.

    The music was released on 26 August at an event, wherein along with Shahrukh Khan, music director of the film, Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy were also present.

    Hungama Mobile MD and CEO Neeraj Roy said, “This provides a great opportunity for Bollywood, as the worldwide popularity of iTunes means we can reach out to the growing Bollywood fan base online, wherever they are. We’re proud to have achieved a milestone by making the Don music available on iTunes.”

    “We are continually working to forge strategic relationships with key digital entertainment players, such as iTunes, to extend Hungama Mobile’s presence in online entertainment globally,” added Hungama Mobile chief operating officer Saleem Mobhani.

    The film is a remake of Amitabh Bachchan starrer Don, which had hit numbers to its credit like Khaike Paan Banaras Waala, because of which expectations are high from Sharukh Khan starrer Don.

    “It’s another step forward in our endeavor to reach the Global consumer and offer them the best of Bollywood through our digital initiative which is the first from the Indian music industry,” said T-Series chairman and MD Bhushan Kumar.

    “We are really excited to be working with Hungama Mobile to deliver exiting and original entertainment content and are working diligently to establish a more comprehensive distribution network in the mobile and digital space.”

    Excel Entertainment producer Ritesh Sidhwani said, “We are excited to be working with Hungama Mobile to release the Music of Don for the First time on the Digital platform via the iTunes Music Store along with the audio release. We are looking forward to increasing the fan following of hindi films by reaching out to the main stream audience through iTunes and welcoming the new era of Digital consumption of content.”

  • VCL adds visual effects for Karan Johar’s latest flick

    VCL adds visual effects for Karan Johar’s latest flick

    MUMBAI: Visual Computing Labs (VCL), a division of Tata Elxsi, provided the Visual Effects (VFX) for Karan Johar’s third directorial venture -Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna (KANK)-.starring Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, Preity Zinta, Abhishek Bachchan and Kiron Kher in pivotal roles.

    The movie was shot over a 90-day stint in the USA and a few on four large sets in Mumbai’s studios.

    “This is VCL’s second project for Dharma Productions, having worked with them earlier on Kal Ho Na Ho. In KANK,VCL has executed more than 45 minutes of effects work” said VCL head K.Chandrashekhar.

    Says Visual Computing Labs, Tata Elxsi Creative Director Pankaj Khandpur, “The most outstanding work in the multi starrer movie was the creation of a Computer Graphic Image (CGI) football stadium and the neighboring city in the aerial views. It is for the first time in India that the creation of thousands of stadium crowds in all the long-shots was all done in computer graphics!”

    “The creation of CGI crowds in the stadium was particularly challenging as we were combining CGI characters in the distance with existing live-action actors in the foreground. Each of the CGI ‘agents’ had to reflect the same level of movement and excitement as the live-action actors, so that both types of ‘actors’ could blend seamlessly in the same shot’s. Even the relative clothing, hair etc. had to be similar! Apart from the blending, the biggest challenge was rendering a crowd of 75,000 people in CG, each in complete 3D, with clothes, caps, shoes, and even tubs of popcorn!” he further added.

    All the environment effects like snow and rain for many of the scenes,
    including depicting the ‘changing’ of seasons in real time were created in CG by VCL An important requirement was to ensure the seamless integration from one scene to the other; this required the creation of ‘matched’ trees, as well as matching the ‘grounds’ of various shots, and the creation of freshly fallen digital ‘snow’ in the Shahrukh shot. This was challenging considering the individual shots had been shot at different locations, and at different times, weeks apart from each other.

    Apart from animation for the movie and the film logo, VCL has designed the opening credits of the film, as well as many minutes of ‘hidden’ effects: cosmetic fixes, embellishment, transitions, and day-for-night effects.

    Visual Computing Labs, a division of Tata Elxsi Ltd, is a creative facility offering animation, gaming and special effects for the global entertainment and broadcast industry. Headquartered in Bangalore, Visual Computing Labs is a unique mix of engineering and creative skills, which provides solutions from scripting, pre/post production, character modelling & Animation, VFX and Development services among others.

  • Sahara One, Endemol present Super Star reality show

    Sahara One, Endemol present Super Star reality show

    NEW DELHI: You think you look like Shah Rukh Khan. You think you move like Khan. You think you act like him. But for one night, can you make millions believe you really are Shah Rukh Khan?

    Coming this September, Sahara One Television brings alive a brand new reality concept, Super Stars, in association with Endemol India.

    The new show proposes to provide Bollywood fans with an opportunity to showcase their talent and perform as their favourite star.

    This international format has seen a production of over 70-odd series in 20 countries across the globe under different names like Sound Mix and Stars in the Eyes.

    The Indian version of this show kick starts with a five-city audition on Sahara One starting 10 August, 2006.

    In each episode, contestants compete by copying their favourite artist as faithfully as possible.

    “India is a nation obsessed with Bollywood. There are temples, clubs, associations dedicated to film actors. Dancing and singing is not only about performing; it’s a passion that drives the souls of many. It’s our endeavour to provide a national platform for such talent,” Sahara One COO Purnendu Bose says.

    The jury for Super Stars includes Bollywood heavy weights like the gorgeous Urmila Matondkar and ace choreographer Shiamak Davar. There would be floating judges too for particular episodes.

    The whole of August, Super Stars will do a nation-wide hunt in an attempt to unearth the flair people possess to be like their stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Rani Mukherjee, Saif Ali Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Kajol, Preity Zinta, Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Kareena Kapoor, Hritik Roshan, Aamir Khan and Salman Khan.

    The contestants will be judged on three parameters – look and style, acting and dance — and will vie for the ultimate honour: the title of Super Star.

    According to Endemol India MD Rajesh Kamat, “We are very excited to partner with Sahara One Television on this special format. It is a show people will connect with and it will feature people that they will connect with.”

    Kamath added that they have received “tremendous response” from people. Aspirants aged 18 years and above can walk in and audition at the city level. This would be applicable to five cities that include Ludhiana (August 10-12), New Delhi (August 13-14), Kolkata (August 17-18), Bhopal (August 20-21) and Mumbai (August 22-23).

    Hundred and twenty winners from the regional auditions will be invited to Mumbai and groomed by experts.

    Sahara One Television is part of the umbrella brand Sahara One, whose other businesses include Sahara One Motion Pictures, which is India’s largest player in the motion pictures business.

    Endemol is a global leader in television and other audiovisual entertainment. The company creates premium entertainment ideas and sells them to the world’s leading broadcasters. Subsequently, the company exploits the value of its brands across other media and communications platforms including mobile phones and the Internet.