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Tag: Bollywood

  • PVR announces blockbuster results for Q1-2014

    PVR announces blockbuster results for Q1-2014

    BENGALURU: Indian motion picture exhibition, production and distribution house PVR Limited (PVR) today declared stellar results for Q1-2014.

     

    Let us take a look at the performance for Q1-2014

     

    PVR’s consolidated revenues for Q1-2014 were Rs 337.3 crore as compared to Rs 180.7 crore during the corresponding period of last year (Q1-2013), up by 87 per cent. Consolidated EBITDA for Q1-2014 was Rs 61.4 crore as against Rs 34.6 crore in the same period last year, up by 78 per cent. Consolidated PAT for the quarter was Rs 13.9 crore in Q1-2014 as against of Rs 7.8 crore in the same period last year, up by 79 per cent.

     

    Correspondingly, PVR’s profit before tax for Q1-2014 grew by 64.5 per cent to Rs 19.7 crore from Rs 11.98 crore in Q1-2013. PVR had reported a loss of Rs 17.94 crore for Q4-2013.

     

    Net total income from operations for Q1-2014 was Rs 208.54 crore, up 29 per cent from the Rs 161.29 crore reported for Q1-2013 and 43 per cent higher than the Rs 146.2 crore reported for the preceding quarter (Q4-2013).

     

    Total expenses at Rs 183.16 crore were up 25.7 per cent from the Rs 145.68 crore during Q1-2013 and up 23.5 per cent as compared to the Rs 148.34 crore for Q4-2013.

     

    PVR says that its exhibition business in Q1-2014 grew on back of strong same store growth, addition of new multiplex properties and Cinemax multiplex circuit (post acquisition in January 2013). The revenue growth was driven by strong box office, food and beverage revenues and advertising revenues.

     

    Revenues from PVR’s movie exhibition more than doubled (grew by 111.5 per cent) at Rs 313.08 crore in Q1-2014 as compared to the Rs 148.05 crore reported for Q1-2013. Revenues for Q1-2014 were higher by 47.1 per cent as compared to the Rs 212.85 crore revenues that the company reported for Q4-2013.

     

    The other contributing segment to profits was ‘Others (includes bowling, gaming and restaurant services)’, revenues from which almost doubled (grew by 98.2 per cent) for Q1-2014 to Rs 18.91 crore from the Rs 9.54 crore reported for Q1-2013 and grew by 17.6 per cent as compared to the Rs 16.98 core revenues reported for Q4-2013. Segment results from the Movie production and distribution recorded a loss of Rs 0.96 crore for Q1-2014.

     

    During Q1-2014, PVR says that it had Rs 1.52 crore footfalls in its cinemas, up by 17 per cent as compared to corresponding quarter of previous year (Q1-2013). The average ticket price across the cinema circuit also grew by 10 per cent on the back of strong content and flexible pricing launched by company in various markets. Food and beverage revenues grew by 37 per cent over corresponding quarter of previous year. Sponsorship revenues also showed a stellar growth of 60 per cent over corresponding quarter of previous year.

     

    PVR chairman cum managing director Ajay Bijli said, “The revenues and profitability in the quarter has shown a robust growth over the same period last year. The integration of PVR & Cinemax at operating level is progressing well and the management is focusing on driving synergies from the combined scale of operations which is reflecting in the market share and the reported results. The string of big budget Bollywood Films like Chennai Express, Once upon a Time in Mumbai Again, Satyagraha, Krrish 3, Dhoom 3, Boss, Beshram, Singh Sahab the Great, Bullet Raja etc., will further augment the strong box office performance for the remainder of FY 2013-14.

     

    The company is bullish on its expansion plans and says that it intends to add 85-90 screens in FY 2013-14. During the Q1-2014, PVR added five properties with 35 screens across Kochi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chandigarh and Delhi. On a combined basis, PVR and Cinemax have a network of 383 screens spread over 89 properties in 35 cities across the country.

  • Reebok signs John Abraham as brand ambassador

    Reebok signs John Abraham as brand ambassador

    BENGALURU: Global premium fitness brand Reebok announced an association with Bollywood actor John Abraham as its new brand ambassador.

    With this association the brand aims at involving more and more people in the drive towards fitness. With John Abraham leading the movement and marketing communication aimed at demystifying the fitness science and inspiring Indians to move, the brands feels that it has cracked the right recipe for success.

    Sources at Reebok says that it is all set to launch a novel festival season campaign with John Abraham for their running and training gear which will be packaged and designed to inspire Indian consumers to take up fitness as a lifestyle. This association with John Abraham is yet another marketing initiative that Reebok has unleashed to drive home the core differentiators of the brand and its global fitness positioning.

    Talking about the association, Adidas Group India managing director Erick Haskell said, “Reebok has solid plans in the fitness sphere and we want to give our consumers a never before fitness experience at every touch point. John Abraham is the perfect embodiment of our fitness philosophy, we are very excited to partner with him and together take our commitment to fitness to the next level. He has inspired the youth of this country to inculcate fitness as a part of their lifestyle and we want to further accelerate the same through our association with him, our exceptional product offering, multiple retail touch points and innovative marketing.”

    John Abraham said, “Reebok has a strong heritage in fitness and so do I. In the case of Reebok, I am proud to say that I will not just be a brand ambassador but that I will embody the very spirit of this association. Stay tuned for some really exciting stuff that I will be doing with Reebok soon.”

    Reebok, as a sports and fitness brand, has sharpened its positioning as a brand that will offer a complete fitness experience to consumers. From specialised products across all fitness categories to the revolutionary retail destination called Fit Hub, Reebok is set to redefine how consumers perceive fitness and make it more accessible.

  • Harlequin India collaborates with maruti international’s upcoming movie- ‘Grand Masti’

    Harlequin India collaborates with maruti international’s upcoming movie- ‘Grand Masti’

    NEW DELHI: Maruti International has teamed up with Harlequin India for a first of a kind content partnership to feature the characters of its blockbuster movie franchise – Masti & now Grand Masti in an exciting book.

    For the first time ever in Bollywood, this International publishing house has licensed the character rights of a feature film.

    Maruti International established in 1983 is one of India‘s leading Bollywood film production house, headed by Ashok Thakeria and Indra Kumar. Having worked with Bollywood Superstars like Aamir Khan, Madhuri Dixit and the internationally acclaimed Anil Kapoor on multiple projects, this production house boasts of a number of successful and iconic films produced from their stable such as “Mohabbat, Kasam, Dil, Beta, Raja, Mann, Rishtey, Masti, Pyare Mohan, Dhamaal, Daddy Cool, Double Dhamaal & Super Nani (currently under-production, starring Rekha and Sharman Joshi)”.

    In 2004, Masti directed by Indra Kumar, set the trend of adult-comedy in Bollywood. Taking forward the legacy of this brand, Bollywood‘s current hot topic of Adultery is presented once again by him in a new and refreshing light, in the much-awaited sequel – Grand Masti. This light hearted comedy is like a breath of fresh air deviating from serious cinema, taking adult-comedy many notches higher than its original flick.

    Harlequin is one of the world‘s leading publishers of books for women. The Toronto-based company publishes over 110 titles a month in 31 languages in 111 international markets on six continents. Harlequin is unique in the publishing industry, combining over highly recognizable imprints including – Harlequin, Mira Books, HQN Books, Harlequin Teen, Spice, Harlequin Nonfiction, Mills & Boon; a global reach, a highly successful reader service and forward-looking technology (eBooks, downloadable audio, mobile phone applications) that not only allows the company to move further and further into the forefront of women‘s fiction but continues to position Harlequin for growth.

    Harlequin India, which started in 2008, has brought its global romantic fiction and general fiction books to India. It has published Indian authors for its romantic fiction genre and is now expanding its Indian publishing portfolio to publish Indian authors in other genres of fiction.

    “The Harlequin-Grand Masti tie-up is the first of its kind partnership, aimed at taking story content across platforms and build upon the synergies of the cinematic and narrative fiction genres and to reach out to more consumers”, says Harlequin India’s country head and publishing directorAmrita Chowdhury.”The book ‘Grand Masti: The Fun Never Ends’ will feature fun, rib-tickling and excitement-filled escapades of the three main characters of the film – Amar, Meet and Prem, played by Riteish Deshmukh, Vivek Oberoi and Aftab Shivdasani on screen. The movie franchise has been dubbed as India’s first adult comedy, on the lines of Hollywood blockbusters such as the American Pie series and The Hangover series. The book will be published by Harlequin under its Spice imprint & it has been written by author Neha Puntambekar.”

    Priya Doraswamy of Lotus Lane Literary, is the agent instrumental for this first time ever association between Maruti International and Harlequin. Commenting on the tie up Ashok Thakeria says, “We are humbled & privileged that the international publishing house ‘Harlequin’ has chosen Grand Masti to enter the Bollywood arena, by licensing the character rights of a film for the first time, under their ‘Spice‘ imprint. The tie up between Harlequin andGrand Masti is a boon to the series as well as to the readers of the book. On one hand we are going to have an increased audience, fans of the film’s franchise will also be turning pages in the bargain and that I think is important today for people not to let go of reading habits,” says Thakeria.

    As part of this tie-up, both teams are announcing the “Grand Masti Fun & Fabulous Author” contest, which is looking for authors to submit a fun original short story, featuring any one or all three of the movie’s main characters. Two winning entrants will receive a special Grand Mastigift hamper and have a chance to get their short story included in the e-book version, to be released globally. The print book will be available across the Indian sub-continent.

    Harlequin and Maruti International are inviting aspiring authors to enter the “Grand Masti Fun & Fabulous Author” contest to submit their original story at the following siteswww.grandmastifilm.com, www.facebook.com/GrandMastiFilm between 19 July 2013 and 3 p.m.on 24 July 2013. “The idea of this web contest is to offer the loyal fans of this franchise, movie-goers and book-readers a deeper engagement with the characters of the film,” adds Chowdhury. “The e-book format really explodes the geographic boundaries for a writer, and makes the story available to readers around the world. Primarily for Indian authors and Bollywood-related books, we expect to see huge interest in the diaspora readers in the various global markets where the movie will be released.”

    “If the story idea is fabulous and workable, we don’t mind making a film that emanates from the idea,” promises ace director Indra Kumar. So for the audiences it is time to watch movies, read books and write stories. That’s surely a lot of Grand Masti!

  • Guwahati brothers debut in Bollywood

    Guwahati brothers debut in Bollywood

    MUMBAI: Child artistes Arbab Umar and Nidal Umar will be getting a break in the movie Luv U Soniyo which is releasing next Friday.

    The film also debuts Rati Agnihotri‘s son, Tanuj Virwani as the male lead role.

    The female lead will be played by Neha Hinge. Arbab will play Virwani‘s brother in the movie and Nidal will play Arbab‘s friend. The story is about a Christian boy in love with a Sikh girl.

    Joe Rajan is the director and producer of the film, releasing on July 26.

  • Sonam Kapoor is brand ambassador of IIJW 2013

    Sonam Kapoor is brand ambassador of IIJW 2013

    MUMBAI: Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor is poised to make a splash once again at the India International Jewellery Week (IIJW) 2013, presented by Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in association with PC Jeweller on 4 August 2013 at the Grand Hyatt in Mumbai.

    The uber stylish Bollywood Diva, who has been associated with the fashion week for the last three years will once again walk the ramp at the glittering opening show, heralding the commencement of five days of glamour and grandeur.

    IIJW has launched its latest campaign featuring the Bollywood Diva in a splendid aqua theme, looking sensuous in exquisite jewellery from Nirav Modi, Farah Khan, Gehna and Anmol Jewellers that she has adorned. The campaign which captures candid moments of the star highlights luxury and panache of the Indian jewellery.

    GJEPC brand ambassador and actress Sonam Kapoor said, “The IIJW has over the years developed into a remarkable platform, allowing not only leading designers to showcase their talent and skills, but it has been very heartening for scores of young designers, who have presented their exemplary and inspiring work at this fashion week. As the brand ambassador for the GJEPC I applaud the effort of not only the young talent, but am also honored to be a part of GJEPC‘s endeavor to promote the mesmerising beauty and aura of the Indian jewellery to the world at large.”

    This year, IIJW will see some of the leading jewellery names such as PC Jewellers, Nirav Modi, Birdhichand Ghanshyamdas, Kays Jewels, Gehna Jewels and Golecha‘s Jewels amongst others, besides 20 budding designers from GIA, IGI, NID & IIGJ.

  • Mughal-e-Azam named greatest Bollywood film in UK poll

    Mughal-e-Azam named greatest Bollywood film in UK poll

    MUMBAI: The Madhubala and Dilip Kumar starrer, Mughal-e-Azam has been awarded the greatest Bollywood film of all time by a poll celebrating 100 years of Indian cinema in the UK. As part of the survey conducted by British Asian weekly newspaper Eastern Eye, filmmaker K Asif’s 1960s epic beat off the tough competition to bag the top spot. Sholaywas ranked second.

    It was a great moment of pride and honor for the entire family according to Akbar Asif, the son of the late filmmaker. For him, Mughal-e-Azam showed all the most impossible dreams that came true.

    The iconic film not only smashed box office records when it was first released but was also successfully coloured and re-released in 2004. Its plot of a doomed affair between Prince Salim and courtesan Anarkali captured hearts all over the world and in 2006 it became the first Bollywood film to get a release in Pakistan after a gap of 41 years.

    The results of the survey were drawn up by combining audience votes through various forms of social media, box office figures, cinematic impact and critical acclaim. The rest of the top 10 in the ‘100 Greatest Bollywood Movies List‘ include Sholay, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Mother India, Awaara, Deewar, 3 Idiots, Kabhi Kabhie, Andaz and Maine Pyar Kiya.

    The lead stars with most movies in the top 10 are Amitabh Bachchan and Nargis, who feature in three each. The late Yash Chopra is the filmmaker with the maximum movies in the top 10 slots, two as director and one as producer.

  • Shruti Haasan scores a double whammy this Friday

    Shruti Haasan scores a double whammy this Friday

    MUMBAI: Bollywood releases for this Friday, 19 July are – D-Day and Ramaiya Vastavaiya. D-Day is an intense action film, while Ramaiya Vastavaiya is a mix of romance and comedy.

    Both movies feature Shruthi Haasan in the cast, which is a rare incidence in Bollywood by any standards. Shruti Haasan is playing a role of an ordinary village girl in Ramaiya Vastavaiya and a prostitute in D-Day.

    Ramaiya Vastavaiya is a musical romance movie and a remake of Prabhu Deva‘s directorial debut Telugu blockbuster Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana. Directed by Prabhu Deva, the movie introduces Girish Kumar, son of producer Kumar Taurani and Shruti Haasan plays the lead lady opposite Girish.

    Ramaiya Vastavaiya was also remade into Tamil with the title Something Something… Unakkum Enakkum and also in Bengali which was called I Love You; all of them were super hits in their respective regions.

    Whereas, directed by Nikhil Advani, D-Day is an Indian crime-thriller starring Arjun Rampal, Shruti Haasan, Irrfan Khan and Huma Qureshi in pivotal roles.

    D-Day is the story of four modest protagonists, all with varying background stories and a common mission that brings them together on foreign soil to execute one such mission.

    With both films in different genres releasing on the same day, let us see on Friday how they are going to be received by the audience.

  • Bollywood to raise funds for Uttarakhand victims

    Bollywood to raise funds for Uttarakhand victims

    MUMBAI: Uttarakhand which has been ravaged by floods and landslides, and many people lost their lives and the rest lost everything else. The catastrophic calamity that has hit the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand and left the once beautiful valley in ruins is mind numbing.

    Bollywood, taking its foot forward will do its bit in rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in Uttarakhand.

    In order to help the people affected by the tragedy, the film industry will organise an event on 15 August to raise funds for rebuilding and rehabilitation projects in the hill state.

    Filmmaker, Mukesh Bhatt is the president of Film and Television Producers Guild of India told the media about the initiative.

    It has been reported that superstars Aamir Khan and Hrithik Roshan have contributed Rs 25 lakh each for the victims of the natural disaster.

  • Arvind Swamy slated to make a comeback to Bollywood

    Arvind Swamy slated to make a comeback to Bollywood

    MUMBAI: Popular southern actor Arvind Swamy is likely to make a comeback in Bollywood with filmmaker Bejoy Nambiar‘s next project.

    The southern actor, who is known for starring in films like ‘Roja‘and ‘Bombay‘, has been approached by Nambiar for his film, where Swamy has a prominent role.

    “We met him and are in talks with him regarding a project that I am going to produce. He has liked it. But it is all too early to talk about,” said Nambiar.

    Though the actor has liked the script, he is yet to sign on the dotted line.

    The actor also starred in Priyadarshan‘s Hindi film ‘Saat Rang Ke Sapne‘ opposite Juhi Chawla. The film was produced by Amitabh Bachchan and it did not do well at box office.
    His last Hindi was ‘Raja Ko Rani Se Pyar Ho Gaya‘ (2000), which failed to garner much attention.

  • IIFA travels to the States in 2014

    IIFA travels to the States in 2014

    MUMBAI: The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards has announced the event will travel to the US for the first time next year (2014), settling in Tampa, Florida in June. The move is one that‘s likely to up the contour of Indian cinema Stateside where Bollywood isn‘t typically top of mind among moviegoers.

    But Indian cinema and talent is definitely growing with movies like Yeh Jawaani Hai Dawaani, and actors like Ranbir Kapoor and multi-hyphenates like Anurag Kashyap making waves. A question remains, however, on how closely the biggies of Hollywood and Bollywood can ever meet.

    India celebrated the 100th centenary of Hindi cinema in Cannes in May, turning a spotlight on the industry. Last month the romcom Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (YJHD) broke into the US top ten upon release. The film‘s success at home and abroad was partly because of the mushy romance seen in the movie. Ranbir Kapoor is one of Bollywood‘s hottest actors at this point of time, also a key factor inYeh Jawaani‘s success.

    Fanning the flames, Kapoor just won the best actor prize for 2012?s Barfi! At IIFA which was held this weekend in Macau. The romantic comedy was India‘s 2012 Oscar entry. It also won several prizes at January‘s Filmfare Awards including top picture and actor; Kapoor played a deaf-mute man involved with two women.

    Kapoor‘s YJHD co-star Deepika Padukone is next up in Chennai Express. Padukone is an established actress who broke out in 2007?s Om Shanti Om. Chennai Express has the distinction of going out on August 8, the eve of India‘s Eid al Fitr holiday. Beginning in 2008, films toplined by Indian superstar Salman Khan staked a claim on the Eid holiday which celebrates the end of Ramadan. With Khan‘s next big production, Mental, not releasing until the January Republic Day weekend, the Eid spot is ripe for another comer with big box office potential.

    Conventional wisdom says it will be Chennai Express. The love story cum road movie is directed by Rohit Shetty (the Golmaal franchise, Bol Bachchan) and, with Padukone, stars the iconic Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, making it one to watch. If Chennai followsYeh Jawaani‘s path, Khan should be happy. He has said that his dedication is to getting Indian films seen by the world rather than having his own career in Hollywood.