ITV

Tag: Baahubali

  • Friend MTS-Castle Media to tackle Bollywood’s digital piracy using unique watermark tech

    Friend MTS-Castle Media to tackle Bollywood’s digital piracy using unique watermark tech

    MUMBAI: Piracy is a serious challenge to the entertainment industry in India. In fact, according to the Motion Pictures Distributors Association of India (MPDA), India country is infamous for having one of the highest rate of video piracy in the world. Lack of stringent IP protection laws to counter exponential growth of online piracy has made matters worse. In 2008 alone, the industry lost close to USD 4 billion (Rs 27,000 crore) to piracy, going by Ernst & Young estimates. By 2016, the figure may have doubled by conservative extrapolation.

    Birmingham-based content protection service Friend MTS sees a business opportunity in bringing back this large sum of non-monetised revenue back to the content-owners in India. Friend MTS is leading a delegation to India that will investigate the escalating problem of digital piracy.

    “As pioneers in the creation and provision of content protection services, already used by many of the world’s Pay-TV operators, rights holders and broadcasters, we want to engage with the country’s movie producers and work with them to effectively fight the increasing threat to the revenue of premium channels and rights holders,” said Friend MTS’ global sales & marketing EVP Paul Hastings.

    Friend MTS has already established the company’s base in Chennai, with Rahul Nehra overseeing its India operations. He works with India’s film studios, broadcasters and content owners to help protect them from unauthorised redistribution of their live and premium on-demand content.

    Film producers and content rights owners such as Kollywood’s Venkat Prabhu is excited “at the prospects of having FMTS track and contain on-line piracy” and are hopeful this will give them a significant upside in local and global revenues. Tamil Film Producers Council secretary T Siva, a film producer at Amma Creation, said, “The industry welcomes these initiatives on digital anti-piracy.” Friend MTS had already helped secure Bollywood movies like Baahubali and Pink against piracy.

    India is the biggest film producer in the world making between 1500 and 2000 movies each year, including the cult Bollywood movies.

    “By teaming up with our local partner, Rahul Nehra, a well-known face in the Indian broadcast, satellite, content and OTT markets, and growth consultants from Frost Sullivan, the event and our delegation will be an unprecedented forum for discussing India’s spiraling digital piracy problems and how together we can work to stop it,” Hastings shared.

    To help the international player understand the complex Indian media ecosystem, it has made an alliance with Castle Media. To guide its penetration in the southern market, it is relying on Novacom. Friend MTS’s flagship service titled ‘Studio’ is designed to identify instances of pirated movies on the internet, and is being used by some of the largest content-owners in the world.

    In 2012 India was added to an ‘International Piracy Watch List’ by a U.S. government panel looking to highlight countries not taking sufficient action to address high rates of digital piracy. According to a 2013 article in WIPO Magazine (the journal of the World Intellectual Property Organization), the Indian film industry loses around US$3.34 billion and some 60,000 jobs every year because of piracy.

    Identifying each copyright violator by generating unique watermark within the content for each user is what Hastings calls is the technology’s USP. “It uses a sophisticated but lightweight fingerprinting technology, coupled with our global monitoring platform and network forensics, to identify and enforce against websites and apps that are being used deliver illegal content,” he added.

    In India Friend MTS is already operational for a leading broadcaster, and in talks with pay TV platforms, OTT service providers, and content makers, to ensure it catches up to its vibrant international clientele. “We deliver digital anti-piracy services for a wide range of customers including content owners such as Viacom and Paramount, sports rights holders such as the English Premier League, Serie A (Italian Football League), UFC, WWE, the International Olympic Committee and leading Hollywood studios. We also protect tier one pay-TV operators such as Sky, BT, nc+ (Poland) and OTE (Greece) delivered via satellite, cable and OTT,” Hastings added in parting.

  • Netflix ties up with PTCL as Amazon woos India

    Netflix ties up with PTCL as Amazon woos India

    MUMBAI: As the world’s leading video-streaming network Netflix and e-commerce giant Amazon take different routes to reach out to the Indian audience while they expand globally, the former is partnering with a top-ranking company in India’s neighbourhood Pakistan, thus strengthening its hold in the sub-continent.

    While Amazon is relying on going local with its video streaming service, Netflix is depending on its global programming.Amazon meantime has commissioned “Baahubali: The Lost Legends,” a new animated series in India based on a local blockbuster movie.

    Pakistani telco PTCL has signed a partnership agreement with Netflix. The two companies will use their respective resources for a symbiotic relationship, maximising the viewing experience and penetration of Netflix services in the Islamic state. This pact will serve as the way forward for both Netflix and PTCL to provide digital content. PTCL will promote and aid original Netflix content in Pakistan.

    Amazon Studios chief Roy Price frequents India scouting for locally appealing programming for Amazon’s forthcoming video service.

    Though Netflix made its India debut around 10 months ago, it makes content-buying decisions out of Los Angeles, even for regional shows, to ensure they have global appeal. For example, the deal with Indian producer Phantom Films for its new Indian original series, based on the internationally acclaimed Mumbai crime novel “Sacred Games.”

    In Pakistan however PTCL became the only service provider with advanced caching servers and technical pairing with Netflix to offer the superior viewing experience since Netflix’s global launch in January 2016. The Netflix Pakistan website says users can start using services starting $7.99 a month, with a free month offer.

    Netflix made the announcement during a keynote by Co-founder and Chief Executive Reed Hastings: “Today you are witnessing the birth of a new global Internet TV network.” Members with a streaming-only plan will be able to watch instantly through the Netflix service. The movies and TV shows that are available to stream may vary by location, and will change from time to time.

    India, Nigeria, Russia and Saudi Arabia were among the major countries where the service was launched, Hastings said at a Consumer Electronics Show keynote in Las Vegas.

    The company recently said it was exploring options for providing its services in China. The company said in July that plans to enter China in 2016 could be delayed. However, Netflix added simplified and traditional Chinese to the 17 languages it already supports.

    PTCL’s chief commercial officer Adnan Shahid described digital entertainment as PTCL’s “key priority”. Netflix, which has expanded into some 190 countries following a near-global launch in January, doesn’t believe in a physical presence in every market.

    Amazon has been selective internationally, pushing Prime Video into some European markets, Japan, and now India. Its bet is that homegrown programming will win over Indian audiences, a strategy analysts say could also help increase Amazon shoppers’ loyalty.

    Netflix is generally reviewed as a stand-alone streaming business, with 87 million subscribers, while Amazon’s video operations are part of the giant’s much larger e-commerce business, with 60 million global Prime members, according to Morgan Stanley estimates.

  • Netflix ties up with PTCL as Amazon woos India

    Netflix ties up with PTCL as Amazon woos India

    MUMBAI: As the world’s leading video-streaming network Netflix and e-commerce giant Amazon take different routes to reach out to the Indian audience while they expand globally, the former is partnering with a top-ranking company in India’s neighbourhood Pakistan, thus strengthening its hold in the sub-continent.

    While Amazon is relying on going local with its video streaming service, Netflix is depending on its global programming.Amazon meantime has commissioned “Baahubali: The Lost Legends,” a new animated series in India based on a local blockbuster movie.

    Pakistani telco PTCL has signed a partnership agreement with Netflix. The two companies will use their respective resources for a symbiotic relationship, maximising the viewing experience and penetration of Netflix services in the Islamic state. This pact will serve as the way forward for both Netflix and PTCL to provide digital content. PTCL will promote and aid original Netflix content in Pakistan.

    Amazon Studios chief Roy Price frequents India scouting for locally appealing programming for Amazon’s forthcoming video service.

    Though Netflix made its India debut around 10 months ago, it makes content-buying decisions out of Los Angeles, even for regional shows, to ensure they have global appeal. For example, the deal with Indian producer Phantom Films for its new Indian original series, based on the internationally acclaimed Mumbai crime novel “Sacred Games.”

    In Pakistan however PTCL became the only service provider with advanced caching servers and technical pairing with Netflix to offer the superior viewing experience since Netflix’s global launch in January 2016. The Netflix Pakistan website says users can start using services starting $7.99 a month, with a free month offer.

    Netflix made the announcement during a keynote by Co-founder and Chief Executive Reed Hastings: “Today you are witnessing the birth of a new global Internet TV network.” Members with a streaming-only plan will be able to watch instantly through the Netflix service. The movies and TV shows that are available to stream may vary by location, and will change from time to time.

    India, Nigeria, Russia and Saudi Arabia were among the major countries where the service was launched, Hastings said at a Consumer Electronics Show keynote in Las Vegas.

    The company recently said it was exploring options for providing its services in China. The company said in July that plans to enter China in 2016 could be delayed. However, Netflix added simplified and traditional Chinese to the 17 languages it already supports.

    PTCL’s chief commercial officer Adnan Shahid described digital entertainment as PTCL’s “key priority”. Netflix, which has expanded into some 190 countries following a near-global launch in January, doesn’t believe in a physical presence in every market.

    Amazon has been selective internationally, pushing Prime Video into some European markets, Japan, and now India. Its bet is that homegrown programming will win over Indian audiences, a strategy analysts say could also help increase Amazon shoppers’ loyalty.

    Netflix is generally reviewed as a stand-alone streaming business, with 87 million subscribers, while Amazon’s video operations are part of the giant’s much larger e-commerce business, with 60 million global Prime members, according to Morgan Stanley estimates.

  • ‘Baahubali’ forays into licensing with ‘Black White Orange’; targets Rs 25 cr in retail sales

    ‘Baahubali’ forays into licensing with ‘Black White Orange’; targets Rs 25 cr in retail sales

    MUMBAI: Licensing and merchandising solutions agency Black White Orange has been appointed as the global licensing agent by Arka Mediaworks Entertainment LLP for their national award-winning movie Baahubali. The much awaited part 2, Baahubali – The Conclusion hits screens worldwide in April 2017.

    With the aim to create a ‘Baahubali brand experience’, Black White Orange will work closely with Arka Mediaworks to conceptualize designs, represent the Baahubali franchise across a wide range of categories and also look at several licensing and retail partnerships, globally. Having already signed on a spate of leading international names like Paramount Pictures, Game of Thrones, Universal Pictures etc. till date, Black White Orange make their first Bollywood brand foray with Arka Mediaworks and their popular franchise – Baahubali .

    “The most challenging part is building the brand and in case of the Baahubali franchise, this job is already done with the global success of the first part of the movie. I know people will be expecting more from the second part. They will not be dissatisfied! We’re confident that Black White Orange’s expertise combined with the Baahubali franchise will translate into an exciting offering of consumer products.” said the film’s director SS Rajamouli.

    Arka Mediaworks CEO Shobu Yarlagadda said, “We are confident that Black White Orange’s unique and promising strategic approach will build the Baahubali brand in India and help us reach our fans.”

    Black White Orange founder and CEO Bhavik Vora added, “Indian cinema has the biggest fan following in the country and probably the most untapped potential on the consumer product platform that takes fans beyond the realm of the big screen. Arka Mediaworks’ Baahubali has raised the bar and created benchmarks in every aspect of movie making.”

    Fans across the globe will soon be able to buy authentic licensed merchandise which will be available at retail and online portals, making it possible for every fan to own their favorite Baahubali merchandise. India is a private consumption led economy with retail merchandising forming 45% of private consumption and the current licensing market is 185 million driven by kids and men.

  • ‘Baahubali’ forays into licensing with ‘Black White Orange’; targets Rs 25 cr in retail sales

    ‘Baahubali’ forays into licensing with ‘Black White Orange’; targets Rs 25 cr in retail sales

    MUMBAI: Licensing and merchandising solutions agency Black White Orange has been appointed as the global licensing agent by Arka Mediaworks Entertainment LLP for their national award-winning movie Baahubali. The much awaited part 2, Baahubali – The Conclusion hits screens worldwide in April 2017.

    With the aim to create a ‘Baahubali brand experience’, Black White Orange will work closely with Arka Mediaworks to conceptualize designs, represent the Baahubali franchise across a wide range of categories and also look at several licensing and retail partnerships, globally. Having already signed on a spate of leading international names like Paramount Pictures, Game of Thrones, Universal Pictures etc. till date, Black White Orange make their first Bollywood brand foray with Arka Mediaworks and their popular franchise – Baahubali .

    “The most challenging part is building the brand and in case of the Baahubali franchise, this job is already done with the global success of the first part of the movie. I know people will be expecting more from the second part. They will not be dissatisfied! We’re confident that Black White Orange’s expertise combined with the Baahubali franchise will translate into an exciting offering of consumer products.” said the film’s director SS Rajamouli.

    Arka Mediaworks CEO Shobu Yarlagadda said, “We are confident that Black White Orange’s unique and promising strategic approach will build the Baahubali brand in India and help us reach our fans.”

    Black White Orange founder and CEO Bhavik Vora added, “Indian cinema has the biggest fan following in the country and probably the most untapped potential on the consumer product platform that takes fans beyond the realm of the big screen. Arka Mediaworks’ Baahubali has raised the bar and created benchmarks in every aspect of movie making.”

    Fans across the globe will soon be able to buy authentic licensed merchandise which will be available at retail and online portals, making it possible for every fan to own their favorite Baahubali merchandise. India is a private consumption led economy with retail merchandising forming 45% of private consumption and the current licensing market is 185 million driven by kids and men.

  • 63rd National Film Awards: ‘Baahubali’ is best film;’Bajirao Mastani’ bags largest number of awards for 2015

    63rd National Film Awards: ‘Baahubali’ is best film;’Bajirao Mastani’ bags largest number of awards for 2015

    New Delhi, 28 March: ‘Baahubali – The Beginning’ by S S Rajamouli, arguably the most expensive film ever made in India, today bagged the Best Film award for 2015, while megastar Amitabh Bachchan and Kangana Ranaut won awards for best artistes for ‘Piku’ and ‘Tanu weds Manu Returns’.‘Bajirao Mastani; bagged the largest number of awards with Sanjay Leela Bhansali getting the best director for the film at the 63rd National Film Awards for 2015, which will be presented on 3 May. ‘Baahubali – The Beginning’ also got the special effects award for V Srinivas Mohan.

    The Feature Film Central panel was headed by Ramesh Sippy, and comprised of 11 members including the chairman. The-Non Feature jury was headed by Vinod Ganatra and comprised seven members including the chairman. The jury on Best Writing on Cinema was headed by Advaita Kala and comprised three members including the chairperson.
    Prior to the announcement of the awards, the chairpersons of the three juries and members of the jury presented their reports to Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley. MoS Rajyavardhan Rathore and secretary Sunil Arora were also present. Jaitley appreciated the efforts put in by the jury members in deciding the awards in various categories which reflected the diversity of India’s cinematic brilliance and diversity.

    Awards list in brief

    Interestingly, the highly acclaimed and internationally applauded film ‘Masaan’ only received theIndira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director for Neeraj Ghaywan.

    Contrary to expectations, Tanvi Azmi bagged the supporting actress award for ‘Bajirao Mastani’ (as the names Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra were also doing the rounds), while Samuthirakani got this award for the film ‘Visaaranai’, which also received the best Tamil Film and Best Editing awards (late Kishore T.E). Gaurav Menon was named best child artiste for ‘Ben’. Kalki Koelchin got a Special Jury Award for ‘Margarita with a straw’.

    ‘Bajirao Rao Mastani’ also won awards for Best choreography by Remo D’Souza for the song ‘Deewani Mastani’, Best Cinematography Sudeep Chaterjee, best sound design by Biswajit Chatterjee, re-recording of final mixed track by Justin Ghose, and best production design by Shriram Iyengar, Saloni Dhatrak and Sujeet Sawant.

    The Salman Khan-starrer ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ by Kabir Khan was named for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, while the best Hindi Film award was given to ‘Dum Laga Ke Haisha.’

    Also interestingly, apart from the top actor awards, ‘Piku’ and ‘Tanu Weds Manu Returns’ also bagged awards for both original screenplay and dialogues for Juhi Chaturvedi (Piku) and Himanshu Sharma (Tanu Weds Manu Returns) respectively. The renowned director Vishal Bhardwaj received the best adapted screenplay accolades for the crime drama ‘Talvar’ inspired by a real-life case.

    This is the fourth time that Bachchan, who entered the film industry in the late sixties, has won a national award. He had earlier bagged the award for ‘Agneepath’ in 1990, ‘Black’ in 2005 and ‘Paa’ in 2009.

    Ranaut earlier won the best actress award for ‘Queen’ and a supporting actor award for ‘Fashion’.

    The Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration went to ‘Nanak Shah Fakir’ which also bagged the awards for Best Costume Designer for Payal Sajula and Best Make-up Artist to Preetisheel G Singh and Clover Wootton for film ‘Nanak Shah Fakir’ by Gurbani Media Pvt. Ltd.

    The award for best film on Social Issues went to ‘Niranayakam’ by V K Prakash, the Environment Conservation/Preservation award went to ‘Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal’ by Dr Biju, and ‘Duronto’ Soumendra Padhi got the best Children’s Film. There was a special mention for Ritika Singh for the film ‘Irudhi Suttru’.

    The award for best female playback went to Monali Thakur for the song ‘Moh Moh Ke Dhaage’ in ‘Dum Lagaa ke Haisha’ and Mahesh Kale won the male playback for ‘Katyar Kalijat Ghusli’.

    The veteran Ilaiyaraaja got the Direction – Background Score award for ‘Thaarai Thappattai’ while M Jayachandran won the best Music Direction award for the song ‘Kaathirunnu Kaathirunnu’ in the film ‘Ennu Ninte Moideen’.

    The best non-feature award went to Amdavad Ma Famous by Hardik Mehta. The best book on cinema book award went to Dr. Rajakumar Samagra Charithre by Doddahulluru Rukkoji and the best film critic award to Meghachandra Kongbam of Manipur.

     
     
  • 63rd National Film Awards: ‘Baahubali’ is best film;’Bajirao Mastani’ bags largest number of awards for 2015

    63rd National Film Awards: ‘Baahubali’ is best film;’Bajirao Mastani’ bags largest number of awards for 2015

    New Delhi, 28 March: ‘Baahubali – The Beginning’ by S S Rajamouli, arguably the most expensive film ever made in India, today bagged the Best Film award for 2015, while megastar Amitabh Bachchan and Kangana Ranaut won awards for best artistes for ‘Piku’ and ‘Tanu weds Manu Returns’.‘Bajirao Mastani; bagged the largest number of awards with Sanjay Leela Bhansali getting the best director for the film at the 63rd National Film Awards for 2015, which will be presented on 3 May. ‘Baahubali – The Beginning’ also got the special effects award for V Srinivas Mohan.

    The Feature Film Central panel was headed by Ramesh Sippy, and comprised of 11 members including the chairman. The-Non Feature jury was headed by Vinod Ganatra and comprised seven members including the chairman. The jury on Best Writing on Cinema was headed by Advaita Kala and comprised three members including the chairperson.
    Prior to the announcement of the awards, the chairpersons of the three juries and members of the jury presented their reports to Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley. MoS Rajyavardhan Rathore and secretary Sunil Arora were also present. Jaitley appreciated the efforts put in by the jury members in deciding the awards in various categories which reflected the diversity of India’s cinematic brilliance and diversity.

    Awards list in brief

    Interestingly, the highly acclaimed and internationally applauded film ‘Masaan’ only received theIndira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director for Neeraj Ghaywan.

    Contrary to expectations, Tanvi Azmi bagged the supporting actress award for ‘Bajirao Mastani’ (as the names Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra were also doing the rounds), while Samuthirakani got this award for the film ‘Visaaranai’, which also received the best Tamil Film and Best Editing awards (late Kishore T.E). Gaurav Menon was named best child artiste for ‘Ben’. Kalki Koelchin got a Special Jury Award for ‘Margarita with a straw’.

    ‘Bajirao Rao Mastani’ also won awards for Best choreography by Remo D’Souza for the song ‘Deewani Mastani’, Best Cinematography Sudeep Chaterjee, best sound design by Biswajit Chatterjee, re-recording of final mixed track by Justin Ghose, and best production design by Shriram Iyengar, Saloni Dhatrak and Sujeet Sawant.

    The Salman Khan-starrer ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ by Kabir Khan was named for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, while the best Hindi Film award was given to ‘Dum Laga Ke Haisha.’

    Also interestingly, apart from the top actor awards, ‘Piku’ and ‘Tanu Weds Manu Returns’ also bagged awards for both original screenplay and dialogues for Juhi Chaturvedi (Piku) and Himanshu Sharma (Tanu Weds Manu Returns) respectively. The renowned director Vishal Bhardwaj received the best adapted screenplay accolades for the crime drama ‘Talvar’ inspired by a real-life case.

    This is the fourth time that Bachchan, who entered the film industry in the late sixties, has won a national award. He had earlier bagged the award for ‘Agneepath’ in 1990, ‘Black’ in 2005 and ‘Paa’ in 2009.

    Ranaut earlier won the best actress award for ‘Queen’ and a supporting actor award for ‘Fashion’.

    The Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration went to ‘Nanak Shah Fakir’ which also bagged the awards for Best Costume Designer for Payal Sajula and Best Make-up Artist to Preetisheel G Singh and Clover Wootton for film ‘Nanak Shah Fakir’ by Gurbani Media Pvt. Ltd.

    The award for best film on Social Issues went to ‘Niranayakam’ by V K Prakash, the Environment Conservation/Preservation award went to ‘Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal’ by Dr Biju, and ‘Duronto’ Soumendra Padhi got the best Children’s Film. There was a special mention for Ritika Singh for the film ‘Irudhi Suttru’.

    The award for best female playback went to Monali Thakur for the song ‘Moh Moh Ke Dhaage’ in ‘Dum Lagaa ke Haisha’ and Mahesh Kale won the male playback for ‘Katyar Kalijat Ghusli’.

    The veteran Ilaiyaraaja got the Direction – Background Score award for ‘Thaarai Thappattai’ while M Jayachandran won the best Music Direction award for the song ‘Kaathirunnu Kaathirunnu’ in the film ‘Ennu Ninte Moideen’.

    The best non-feature award went to Amdavad Ma Famous by Hardik Mehta. The best book on cinema book award went to Dr. Rajakumar Samagra Charithre by Doddahulluru Rukkoji and the best film critic award to Meghachandra Kongbam of Manipur.

     
     
  • ‘Baahubali’ & ‘Ennu Ninte Moideen’ win big at IIFA Utsavam Awards 2016

    ‘Baahubali’ & ‘Ennu Ninte Moideen’ win big at IIFA Utsavam Awards 2016

    MUMBAI: The IIFA Utsavam Awards 2016, which celebrates South Indian cinema, saw the coming together of the stars from the Tamil and Malayalam Film Industries on 24 January.

     

    The first day saw the Tamil and Malayalam film industries being felicitated. In the Tamil Film Awards, Baahubali-The Beginning took home the highest number of accolades with a total tally of six awards including Best Picture, Direction, Supporting Role (Male), Supporting Role (Female), Playback Singer (Male) and Playback Singer (Female).

     

    For the Malyalam Film Awards, Ennu Ninte Moideen also took home the highest number of awards with a total tally of six awards including Best Picture, Leading Role (Male), Leading Role (Female), Supporting Role (Female) and Playback Singer (Female).

     

    Jayam Ravi won the award for Leading Role (Male) for his performance in Thani Oruvan (Tamil), while Nayanthara walked away with the award for Leading Role (Female) for May (Tamil). Prithviraj Sukumaran and Parvathi Menon won Best Actor and Best Actress for their film Ennu Ninte Moideen.

     

    The evening also saw performances by Kavya Madhavan, Shriya Saran, Adah Sharma, Tapsee Pannu, Mamta Mohandas, Nikki Galrani and Bharath.

     

    The awards will be telecast on Sun TV.

     

    Sun TV Network network programming head S.J. Clement said, “Sun TV Network is proud to be associated with the premiere edition of IIFA Utsavam 2015, a pioneering event that will present the finest among the South Indian film fraternity. Sun TV Network reaches around 58 million households in the country. Increasingly, our programming is being accessed by the South Indian diaspora across the globe. We believe in delivering consistently high quality entertainment through our unrelenting focus on premium content. Our collaboration with IIFA reiterates our commitment to be at the leading edge of broadcast media industry.”

     

    Wizcraft International Entertainment director Andre Timmins said, “We are thrilled at the phenomenal success of the very first edition of IIFA Utsavam. There have been a lot of challenged we have had to overcome including the tragedy in Chennai. We are honoured to be able to help the city of Chennai get back on its feet through IIFA Utsavam. It is an honour to felicitate so many deserving individuals on their talent and hard work in the year gone by and we wish all the winners tonight the very best.”

  • ‘Baahubali’ & ‘Ennu Ninte Moideen’ win big at IIFA Utsavam Awards 2016

    ‘Baahubali’ & ‘Ennu Ninte Moideen’ win big at IIFA Utsavam Awards 2016

    MUMBAI: The IIFA Utsavam Awards 2016, which celebrates South Indian cinema, saw the coming together of the stars from the Tamil and Malayalam Film Industries on 24 January.

     

    The first day saw the Tamil and Malayalam film industries being felicitated. In the Tamil Film Awards, Baahubali-The Beginning took home the highest number of accolades with a total tally of six awards including Best Picture, Direction, Supporting Role (Male), Supporting Role (Female), Playback Singer (Male) and Playback Singer (Female).

     

    For the Malyalam Film Awards, Ennu Ninte Moideen also took home the highest number of awards with a total tally of six awards including Best Picture, Leading Role (Male), Leading Role (Female), Supporting Role (Female) and Playback Singer (Female).

     

    Jayam Ravi won the award for Leading Role (Male) for his performance in Thani Oruvan (Tamil), while Nayanthara walked away with the award for Leading Role (Female) for May (Tamil). Prithviraj Sukumaran and Parvathi Menon won Best Actor and Best Actress for their film Ennu Ninte Moideen.

     

    The evening also saw performances by Kavya Madhavan, Shriya Saran, Adah Sharma, Tapsee Pannu, Mamta Mohandas, Nikki Galrani and Bharath.

     

    The awards will be telecast on Sun TV.

     

    Sun TV Network network programming head S.J. Clement said, “Sun TV Network is proud to be associated with the premiere edition of IIFA Utsavam 2015, a pioneering event that will present the finest among the South Indian film fraternity. Sun TV Network reaches around 58 million households in the country. Increasingly, our programming is being accessed by the South Indian diaspora across the globe. We believe in delivering consistently high quality entertainment through our unrelenting focus on premium content. Our collaboration with IIFA reiterates our commitment to be at the leading edge of broadcast media industry.”

     

    Wizcraft International Entertainment director Andre Timmins said, “We are thrilled at the phenomenal success of the very first edition of IIFA Utsavam. There have been a lot of challenged we have had to overcome including the tragedy in Chennai. We are honoured to be able to help the city of Chennai get back on its feet through IIFA Utsavam. It is an honour to felicitate so many deserving individuals on their talent and hard work in the year gone by and we wish all the winners tonight the very best.”

  • 10 TV shows that can taste success in video gaming

    10 TV shows that can taste success in video gaming

    MUMBAI: In India, many a movies have touched new heights at the box office year after year. Filmmakers leave no stone unturned to promote their movies and making a video game around it has been just one way to create that added buzz and get the publicity juggernaut rolling. Over the years, the digital media has unleashed newer avenues to create more buzz for movies. Movies like Ra.One, Ghajini, Dhoom 3 or the very recent super hit flick Baahubali to name a few have rolled out video games to capture the pulse of the audience before the movie’s theatrical release.

    Video games have been a growing phenomenon since the mid 1980s and are still sprouting at a fast pace in India. From kids to teenagers to collegians to seniors, everyone is glued to their smart phone screens engrossed in playing games. With vast improvements in technology, the video gaming industry has evolved from a simple two dimensional games to realist, fast paced, life like experiences. Be it online or offline, gaming remains as the favourite past time for everyone to kill time or for plain entertainment.

    Movies aside, television shows too have the potential to be turned into video games and we at Indiantelevision.com put our heads together to chalk out ten television shows that can make a graceful transition into video games.

    From detective series to mythos, there’s something in here to cater to the tastes of one and all. Read on for the list of programmes, which we think deserve to join the glamorous realm of gaming:

    1) Agent Raghav

    This crime fiction television series if turned into a game would definitely earn a fortune seeing the craze amongst the young players in the society over a famous game becoming viral each passing day. The game would involve the player face personal challenges with non-stop adventure, tremendous pressure and risk, all in the name of duty, to find and catch the criminal(s) led by the smallest of clues. The video gamers would be the Indian Sherlock Holmes to deduce significant information from small insignificant looking clues.

    2. Byomkesh Bakshi

    The fictional detective series Byomkesh Bakshi revolves around a detective who takes up spine-chilling cases where he lets the perpetuator die by manipulating the circumstances. This ‘truth seeking’ show, if made into a game would yet again gain high popularity as the players would have to trigger their mental capability by observe every minute details attached with a case, studying it to the core, taking into account all perspectives and then finally coming to a conclusion. This brainstorming game would also give the players a push by using their own methods as redemption and to deliver justice for the victims in absence of evidence.

    3. CID

    Daya, kuch toh gadbad hai!! We’ve grown up watching this iconic television show, which has been running successfully for 18 years now on Sony Entertainment Television. It is now the Sony’s longest running show. Yet another detective television anthology series, CID is all about the Criminal Investigation Department and how do they solve a ‘not-so-easy’ case. The show if converted into a video game will also enjoy the same amount of followers as the television show has garnered over the years. In the CID game, players will have to study and observe the entire criminal case from the root to the tip thereby catching the accused or the criminal mind(s) behind it.

    4. Everest

    Everest was a TV show about a group of people undergoing training before attempting to climb Mount Everest. Think of a game wherein the players can have the control over the training that is required for the people who aspire to reach the peak of the highest mountain in the world. Hang on, why not try going international with this idea as well? A game with all possible obstacles, ups and downs, twists and twirls, replete with avalanches and snow storms that will also enable players with an option on which mountain they would want to climb! Now that’s an idea!

    5. Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi

    What fun would a video game be, which give its players an adrenaline rush in the veins! Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi is a stunt reality game show, which is full of adventure and breathtaking stunts. This show makes it to this list without any doubt. A powerful online video game full of action and bundles of surprises wherein gamers can overcome their fears when they face extreme situations, confronted with danger and challenges. The fears can be either given by the other players playing in that round or through a small smart quiz taken up by the player themself.

    6. Mahabharat

    Gaming draws inspiration from a variety of sources. Current socio-political issues, the works of established authors and to the delight of many I know, ancient cultures. One of the most important and the costliest TV show to be produced is Mahabharat.

    Based on the Hindu epic of the same name, Mahabharat is the epic story of the family feud between the noble Pandava princes and their scheming cousins, the Kaurava kings. This gigantic mythological TV show full of revenge, anger and fights can be converted into an episodic game, with each episode focusing on one of the multiple named characters. A game to see how they get along as the play shifts perspective from one group to the other, telling the myriad story from many sides. If made into a game, this will be a sure shot retreat to the gamers with its plush visual effects.

    7. Roadies

    Oh yes! Who hasn’t heard about this show?! Many people wish to and even have tried to be a part of this reality television show. The craze among the youth for this show, which has been running for the last 12 years is never-ending. Think of an online video game on a show you have followed crazily. A game full of travel, adventures, action, manipulation and also a slight touch of voyeurism wherein a player will have to do every possible thing to survive and win the ultimate title.

    8. Shaktimaan

    Andhera Kayam Rahe!! Yes, our very own superhero Shaktimaan. Everyone is a superhero fan. Some accept it, some don’t. Love for superheroes in Indians range from Batman to Shaktimaan with Krrish hanging somewhere in the middle. Imagine an opportunity where you can replace the superhero you have adored in your childhood days. A game wherein you will have all the superpowers trying to finish or may be at least reduce corruption and injustice in society and fight the evil prevailing in the world.

    9. The Adventures of Hatim

    Don’t we remember our childhood hero Hatim, the Prince of Yamen, who went on a journey to solve the seven riddles in order to destroy the evil sorcerer Zargam. Imagine how will it be if this TV show is turned into a video game. A fantasy game full of fights, mysteries, puzzles, magic and blood. Like Hatim, the player will have hands on a magical sword and will set out on a journey, which requires both mental and physical strength. How interesting will it be to discover this ultimate mission by solving the seven riddles to attain the seven virtues to be able to defeat the evil sorcerer? A game wherein you can fight against all the darkness striving toward light with bravery?

    10. 24

    24 is a series, which has penetrated successfully pan India airing 24 episodes covering 24 hours in the life of Jai Singh Rathore aka Anil Kapoor in the Indian version of the international show. Think of a game where a player has to race against the clock as he attempts to thwart multiple terrorist plots, including presidential assassination attempts, weapons of mass destruction detonations, bioterrorism, cyber attacks, as well as conspiracies, which deal with government and corporate corruption. Wouldn’t that be better than the same old games that we have been playing over a decade now?

    *The shows are listed alphabetically in ascending order