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Tag: Deepa Sahi

  • Cosmos-Maya to invest $50 mn to expand into Europe and North America

    Cosmos-Maya to invest $50 mn to expand into Europe and North America

    Mumbai: Indian animation company, Cosmos-Maya, is planning global expansion and aims to grow five fold in the next three years. The company has drawn up a blueprint to scale up in new geographies with an investment in the range of $50 million, expanding in the Europe Union and establishing a significant scale in North America. 

    The company is reported to be evaluating multiple acquisition opportunities to have a strong on-ground presence in the US and Canada.  

    Over the last few years, the growing viewership of animated content coupled with the habit of binge-watching, which took-off during the pandemic has led to a rapid increase in demand for animation in India and international markets.

    The company is investing to further strengthen tech infrastructure and on-board global talent. Alongside the international expansion, Cosmos-Maya has dedicated teams focussed on building on its dominant leadership position in the Indian animation market. The company is setting up state-of-the-art studios across multiple cities in India to cater to the fast-growing demand for kids’ content in India.

    Cosmos-Maya founders, Ketan Mehta and Deepa Sahi, are leading the initiatives to bring together the best minds in business from and outside India and be involved in expanding the leadership team.

    Commenting on Cosmos Maya shaping up to be an international player, Mehta said, “Cosmos-Maya has been a pioneer in the field of Indian kids animation, and has established market dominance in India through its popular IPs like Motu Patlu, Vir the Robot Boy, Selfie with Bajrangi, etc. The company has now set sight on building a strong international presence by aggressively expanding in the North American market.”

    Backed by Singapore-headquartered NewQuest Capital Partners, part of the TPG group, the company is also building significant capabilities and technological infrastructure to leverage nascent but fast-growing opportunities in NFT and metaverse.

    Sahi said, “It is an exciting time to lead teams to newer avenues and lucrative opportunities. Cosmos-Maya with its deep animation expertise and experience with new-age technology platforms, is best poised to take advantage of the emerging opportunities.” 

    Commenting on the recent exit of CEO, Anish Mehta founder Cosmos Maya said, “We thank Anish for his contribution in Cosmos-Maya’s journey till now, and wish him the best for his new entrepreneurial endeavour.”

    Cosmos-Maya has a slew of announcements in store for 2022 in terms of both new projects and international expansion.

  • Cosmos-Maya celebrates 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi with its brand-new kids’ show ‘Bapu’

    Cosmos-Maya celebrates 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi with its brand-new kids’ show ‘Bapu’

    MUMBAI: Cosmos-Maya is launching ‘Bapu’, a new show inspired by Gandhiji, for kids. This development comes soon after the 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, held recently. 2019 also marks the 150th birth anniversary of the Mahatma. 

    Founded by internationally acclaimed Indian filmmakers Ketan Mehta and Deepa Sahi, Cosmos-Maya is a leading India and Singapore based Animation Company that produces high quality 3D & 2D animation content. KKR backed Emerald Media, a Pan-Asia platform established by the leading global investment firm, for investments in the media and entertainment sector, has a controlling stake in Cosmos-Maya. The company presently has 13 shows on air including Intellectual Properties (IPs) like Motu Patlu, Inspector Chingum, Selfie With Bajrangi, Eena Meena Deeka, and is working with all major broadcasters in this space.

    Out of the many gifts Gandhiji left for kids of subsequent generations, the greatest is instilling in them self-belief. “Be the change you wish to see in the world”, said the man who walked almost 400 km for the Dandi March. Cosmos-Maya has been working on the concept for the past two years. The company aims to not only empower half a billion Indian kids with Gandhiji’s values in a non-didactic format, but also to spread the Mahatma’s teachings to kids world over with entertaining, child-friendly storytelling.

    “Kids are an impressionable audience. Hence parental approval is imperative. We aim to make each episode a family affair with parents giving additional commentary.”, Anish Mehta, CEO Cosmos-Maya.

    Suhas Kadav, Chief Creative Officer, Cosmos-Maya and creator of the show said, “Bapu belongs to everyone and is a perpetual part of the collective conscious of us Indians. Our show ‘Bapu’ will help kids learn the value of goodness and inspire and entertain in the process.”

    Anish Mehta, CEO Cosmos-Maya added, “‘Bapu’ will be a tribute to the man who had the power to shape the thinking of generations. Cosmos-Maya’s biggest IPs are all ‘Swadeshi’. With our production might, we are best equipped as story tellers in the sense that we can exercise our Creative Social Responsibility and communicate Gandhiji’s teachings in a fun but responsible manner.”

  • Nawazuddin Sidiqqui stars as Manjhi in Ketan Mehta’s next directorial

    Nawazuddin Sidiqqui stars as Manjhi in Ketan Mehta’s next directorial

    MUMBAI: Taj Mahal was constructed in the loving memory of Mumtaz Mahal by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. This monument took 21 years to build and thousands of artisans and craftsmen worked tediously to erect the magnificent structure.

    Then there is Manjhi, an inspiring love story of a poor Shah Jahan, Dashrath Manjhi. Over 22 years, with just a hammer and a chisel, he carved out a path through a mountain, in memory of his beloved wife who had fallen down while trying to cross it. He did it so that no one else would have to suffer her fate.

    “The story of Manjhi is truly inspiring, and for a man to actually break a mountain with just a hammer and a chisel for 22 years for his lost love just gave me goosebumps”, said director Ketan Mehta. “This has certainly been the toughest shoot of my life; we shot in Naxal infested areas on actual location in Bihar.”

    Marking the occasion of Dashrath Manjhi’s sixth death anniversary, renowned director Ketan Mehta announced the completion of his movie Manjhi – The Mountain Man. A biopic on Dashrath Manjhi, famous for being the man who broke a mountain for love, is a co-production between Maya Movies and National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).

    The movie is co-written and directed by Ketan Mehta and produced by Deepa Sahi and Nina Lath Gupta, with an ensemble cast. The movie has been shot on actual locations in remote areas of Bihar.

    “It was one of the most difficult films to shoot, with the unit having to climb a mountain on foot, every day literally”, said Manjhi – The Mountain Man producer Deepa Sahi. “The movie is looking very nice with brilliant performances by all the artists. We have completed the post-production and are looking forward to release it by the end of this year”, she further added.


     Acclaimed actor, Nawazuddin Sidiqqui, who has won the hearts of audience and critics alike, for his commendable performances in Gangs of Wasseypur, Talaash, Kahaani and Bombay Talkies, will be essaying the role of Dashrath Manjhi. Actress Radhika Apte, will be seen as Manjhi’s wife. Tigmanshu Dhulia, Pankaj Tripathi, Prashant Narayan, Gaurav Dwivedi, amongst others round up the ensamble cast.

    “I wanted the character of Manjhi to be as real as possible and after considering a few actors Nawaz suited the bill perfectly”, Ketan expounded. “The feel of the movie is really raw, intense and earthy; I am really pleased with the final product and am confident the audience will be too.”

    NFDC was approached with the script and they agreed to co-produce the feature film. The complete film has been shot in digital and Ketan is really pleased with the outcome. “This is the first time that I have shot with Red Epic cameras and the result is just amazing.” The duration of the film is just over two hours and should be releasing by end of the year or early next year.

    On being asked if he is confident of the film raking in the moolah at the box-office, here is what Ketan had to say, “Cinema is not just a numbers game. I make movie for the sheer passion of cinema. This is not just a movie, but a triumph of human spirit and to prove that nothing in this world is impossible.”

    Ketan Mehta’s magnum opus – Rang Rasiya – that has been stuck in the doldrums for quite sometime now has also finally got the green signal and should see the light of day by end of this year.

    Ketan has been off the radar for quite sometime now, hope with Manjhi and Rang Rasiya his fans can again have the opportunity to connect with him on the silverscreen.

  • Ketan Mehta’s film on the Mountain Man faces 1st hurdle

    Ketan Mehta’s film on the Mountain Man faces 1st hurdle

    MUMBAI: Within hardly 15 days of its announcement, Ketan Mehta‘s biopic of Mountain Man Dashrath Manjhi, has reportedly hit a roadblock.

    Bhagirath Dashrath Manjhi, son of Dashrath Manji, has now issued a public notice saying that he had exclusively assigned the making rights to filmmaker Neerraj Pathak.

    According to the notice, no other person has the consent to make a film on his late father. The notice further states that he has the right to take legal action against anyone who attempts to infringe the personal rights of his family.

    In his absence, Mehta‘s actress-turned-filmmaker wife Deepa Sahi said, “It is a true life story so anyone can make a film based on it. It is part of our history so no one can have a copyright to it.”

    Earlier in July 2010, director Manish Jha had announced a film titled Manjhi based on the life of Dashrath Manjhi. The film was to be produced by Sanjay Singh, who had earlier announced to produce Udaan in which Manoj Bajpai was slated to play the lead. But the project never saw light of the day.

    It may be interesting to note that Dashrath Manjhi, in his determination to cut a distance between Atri and Wazirganj blocks of Gaya district from 75 km to just one km, single-handedly carved a 360-foot-long, 25-foot-high and 30-foot-wide road by cutting a mountain of Gehlour hills for 22 years from 1960 to 1982.

  • Ketan Mehta’s Rang Rasiya to open in May

    Ketan Mehta’s Rang Rasiya to open in May

    MUMBAI: After a long wait, Ketan Mehta’s Rang Rasiya will eventually release in May.


    The film is based on the life of the 19th century Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma.


    Describing the premise of film, Mehta said: “The film is a kind of response and reaction to the climate of intolerance that was sweeping in the country five -six years ago. What happened to Raja Ravi Varma 100 years ago happens today also. If you look at M.F. Hussain, he was hounded, persecuted, prosecuted and thrown out of the country because of his art. He was forced to go on a self exile.”


    Starring Randeep Hooda and Nandana Sen, the film has been produced by Deepa Sahi and Anand Mahendroo.


    After completion, the film was lying in the cans for the last three years.

  • New Jersey fest to focus on Indian female directors

    New Jersey fest to focus on Indian female directors

    MUMBAI: The New Jersey Independent South-Asian Cinefest (NJISACF) 2011 will screen films by Indian women filmmakers and focus on women from India and other South-Asian countries.


    The three-day festival, being held from 21 to 23 October, aims to introduce new and established independent women film artists from South Asia and the South Asian Diaspora.


    The lineup of films that would be screened at the fest includes Amit Dutta’s Aadmi Ki Aurat Aur Anya Kahaniyan, Sonali Gulati’s I Am, Natasha Mendonca’s Jan Villa, Lalit Marathe’s Shabri, and Deepa Sahi’s Tere Mere Phere.


    The New Jersey Independent South Asian Cine Fest was created as a part of the Asian American Film and Theater Project, a non-profit organisation based in USA.

  • Ketan Mehta floats film distribution firm

    Ketan Mehta floats film distribution firm

    MUMBAI: Filmmaker Ketan Mehta, singer Anup Jalota, actor–director Deepa Sahi and media entrepreneur Subur Khan have floated a film distribution company.


    Open Door Films Limited will be a wholly integrated distribution platform for independent controlled budget films Its main objective will be to provide a viable, transparent, alternative, global marketing and distribution platform for high quality Indian independent films.


    Said Mehta, “Good content deserves good distribution. We keep saying that content is king, but honestly, when we get good content we don‘t respect it. It isn‘t given the kind of promotional push that it deserves to make it viable at the box office. Bad distribution kills the film, before it can even try and reach its core target audience. Recently, many concept-driven, budget-controlled films have been much appreciated by the audiences. With Open Door Films Limited, this is precisely what we seek to achieve, to turn this trend into a tide.”


    In the changed contemporary film scenario in India, over 100 independent films every year fail to get proper distribution. These films, made with a lot of passion and commitment, fail to reach their target audience due to the absence of a distribution platform designed for and dedicated to such films.
     
    With all big film and media corporations vying for big budget, big star cast films, small budget independent films find it extremely difficult to see the light of the day. Open Door Films aims to change all that.


    Open Door Films will provide end-to-end marketing and distribution solutions for Indian independent filmmakers, thereby opening up immense possibilities for the future of Indian Cinema. The company, with strategic investment from Maya Digital Media, Anup Jalota and Subur Khan, will bridge the gap between makers of concept-driven films and the film distribution network.


    The first film distributed by the company will be Sahi‘s Tere Mere Phere. The film takes a comic look at the man-woman relationship through the point of view of the four principal characters of the film.


    The company plans to distribute between 25 and 30 films over the next three years.