ITV

Tag: Diwali

  • Shahid Kapoor-starrer Rambo Rajkumar to release on 15 November

    Shahid Kapoor-starrer Rambo Rajkumar to release on 15 November

    MUMBAI: Prabhudeva‘s Shahid Kapoor starrer Rambo Rajkumar has been slated for release on 15 November, 2013. The film was earlier titled Namak.

     

    It will follow Rakesh Roshan‘s Hrithik Roshan-starrer Krrish 3 that will release during Diwali on 2 November.

     

    Rambo Rajkumar, as the name suggests, is an action film packed with Bollywood masala. The film is generating anticipation since it brings together Shahid and Sonakshi Sinha for the first time.

     

    It will be interesting to see this time whether Prabhu Deva continues his dream run at box office after Wanted and Rowdy Rathore especially when India‘s most loved superhero Krrish will be playing in cinemas.

  • Eros Now premieres Son Of Sardaar online

    Eros Now premieres Son Of Sardaar online

    MUMBAI: Ajay Devgn starrer Son Of Sardaar that released this Diwali is back to entertain the audiences this Christmas season as Eros Now released the film digitally.

    Apart from Devgn, film stars Sonakshi Sinha and Sanjay Dutt. Eros Now executive producer Tanishaa Mukerji tweeted, "Banao yeh festive season mazedar by watching #SonOfSardaar, #NowPlaying with a 14 day free trial only on @ErosNow http://bit.ly/SonOfSardaar-Movie"

    Eros Now is also offering a 14-day free trial where viewers can watch over 250 movies from their library including Son Of Sardaar. 

  • Dabangg2 not hot with Salman fans

    Dabangg2 not hot with Salman fans

    MUMBAI: Dabangg2 was the film the exhibitors, especially the ones controlling single screens, had put a lot of hope in. After a disappointing line up since Diwali which did not live up to the expectations of the exhibition trade despite big stars, they betted big on Dabangg2 paying high MGs (minimum muarantees). These exhibitors stand to lose over half of their MGs paid. Surprisingly, the worst affected are the single screens at the smaller centres.

    Considering the excessive number of screens deployed (approx 3,500) and enhanced admission rates, the pre-release expectations from this franchise was a figure of over Rs 250 million for the opening day. However, as it turned out, the film was not as hot with the Salman fans as well as other moviegoers as it was in the film trade. It registered a little over Rs 190 million for the first day of release.

    Dabangg2 ended its first weekend with figures of Rs 593 million. The collections dived on Monday, which may stabilize to an extent for the night show and on Tuesday being a Christmas holiday. Night shows in the north will suffer due to adverse weather and heavy fog conditions.

    Khiladi 786 collected Rs 164 million in its second week taking its total collection to Rs 636 million. The film shows below average trend.

    Talaash collected Rs 78 million in its third week taking its total to Rs 927.6 million.

  • YRF replies to makers of Son of Sardar

    YRF replies to makers of Son of Sardar

    MUMBAI: Yash Raj Films (YRF) has replied sternly to Eros International, Viacom18 and Ajay Devgn Films‘ legal notice over the release of Jab Tak Hai Jaan opposite Devgn starrer Son of Sardar.

    Below is the official statement from YRF:

    “We were indeed quite surprised to receive an intimation from Ajay Devgn Films‘ lawyers today saying that they had filed a complaint with the Competition Commission of India against YRF, alleging malpractice committed by us in connection with the release of Jab Tak Hai Jaan and thereby affecting the release of Son of Sardar. For a company like ours, which has maintained the highest standards of work ethics and fair play, this has really come as a shock.

    We would like to clarify, at the outset, that we still haven‘t received any notice from the Commission and will suitably represent our stance if and when called upon to do so. Worldwide, as well as in India, distributers often sign deals for their complete annual slate of films to simplify the process. We trust the Competition Commission will also see it as universally acceptable fair business practice.

    As we have mentioned in the past, all the exhibitors, when approached by us earlier this year for booking their theatres, were happy to play out Yashji‘s movie considering their long standing and emotional relationship and goodwill with YRF of over 40 years. A Yash Chopra/Shah Rukh Khan movie, coming after a gap of 8 long years, did not need any coercion for contractual screening. Additionally, some exhibitors, who played Ek Tha Tiger, have chosen not to screen Jab Tak Hai Jaan.

    Interestingly, of the 10500 plus single screens available on an all-India basis, we have booked less than 1500 single screens (an industry norm for an A-lister movie), a fact that has been common knowledge for some time now. If this was an issue, why wasn‘t it raised earlier? Why wait till now when both films are nearing release?

    We had announced Jab Tak Hai Jaan would be a Diwali 2012 release as far back as 27th June 2011 and thereafter every press release of ours reiterated this. Given that most big ticket films avoid simultaneous releases, it was odd that Son of Sardar announced their release for the same day almost a year later on 29th May 2012. They were also able to lock their final distribution partner as late as 4th Oct 2012. It would seem odd that they would expect us to wait for our release plans to be put in place till they had finalised theirs!

    It is also unfair to say that we are in any way in a dominant position. While we are releasing just three films this year, the two production houses in question, VIACOM 18 & EROS, who are distributing Son of Sardar, have a total release strength of almost 27 films in a year.

    Everyone agrees that the festive time of Diwali has space for two simultaneous releases. Give the audience a choice to choose the one they want to watch. Few of the exhibitors have already chosen, on the basis of a business decision, the one they want to exhibit.”

  • High inflation may dampen festival season spending: Ipsos Survey

    MUMBAI: Nearly four-fifth (78 per cent) Indians claimed their planned expenditure during this festival season will be less than Rs 10,000, according to the ‘Mood of the Nation Survey‘ conducted by global research firm Ipsos.

    Among the respondents (43 per cent) who said that there spend during this Diwali is less than Rs 5000 are mostly from middle and lower middle income families.

    Ipsos India head of marketing communication Biswarup Banerjee said, “High inflation and an uncertain economic environment are some of the main reasons for buyers cutting down on spending.”

    Less than two in 10 (16 per cent) Indians said that their shopping budget during this Diwali is between Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000. In this group, rich and higher middle class income families were significantly higher than middle and lower middle income families.

    Only five per cent of rich Indians claimed that their planned expenditure during this Diwali is more than Rs 50,000.

    In Delhi, 23 per cent people claimed that their Diwali shopping budget is more than Rs 50,000 and 28% people claimed that their shopping budget is between Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000.

    In Kolkata, 92 per cent people claimed that their Durga Puja shopping budget is less than Rs 10,000.

    During this festival season sweets and food items (90 per cent), clothes (86 per cent), and gifts (53 per cent) are the top three planned purchases of Indian citizen. At the fourthh position feature Electronic Goods, desired to be purchased by 30 per cent people.

    A very few people also plan to buy cars (six per cent) and bikes (five per cent). These respondents mostly belong to rich and upper middle class category.

    In Delhi, the top three items are sweets and food items (100 per cent), clothes (96 per cent), electronic goods (91 per cent).

    Only half (52 per cent) Indians said that they were holding up their purchase decision till wDiali in anticipation of heavy discounts. In this group who is waiting till Diwali, female respondents are significantly higher than male respondents.

    The remaining half of the people are not willing to wait. Male respondents are significantly higher than female respondents who are not waiting till Diwali.

    Delhi (79 per cent) and Kolkata (69 per cent) topped the list in terms of holding the purchase decision till festival season discounts are announced.

    “This festive season bargain-hunting may become the preferred choice for majority of Indians as higher discounts will be definitely an added incentive for spending on desired items,” added Banerjee.

    Ipsos ‘Mood of the Nation‘ survey was conducted between September 24 – 27, 2012 among 420 men and women in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Lucknow.

  • SRK plans big-budget film titled Mahabharata

    SRK plans big-budget film titled Mahabharata

    MUMBAI: Keeping behind the debacle of his ambitious film Ra.One, Shah Rukh Khan has planned to make a big-budget film titled Mahabharata.

    The film is based on Karna, one of the most interesting and complex characters in the epic.

    Khan is of the view that the new film might be far bigger and better in its scale than Ra.One that released last Diwali. His ultimate goal is to make the mother of all Indian films that could be Bollywood’s first truly global blockbuster.

    The actor-producer wants the special effects of this film to be more advanced than James Cameron’s Avatar. Mahabharata would be made on the lines of Lord of the Rings – a trilogy.

    Right now, the actor-producer is busy with his SFX team at Red Chillies to put together a very special presentation for next month’s Berlin Film Festival.

    It is being said that Khan has already held talks with Hollywood studios in India like 20th Century Fox and Warner Brothers regarding the marketing and distribution of the film.

  • Coca-Cola launches new communication for Diwali, ties up with Ra.One

    Coca-Cola launches new communication for Diwali, ties up with Ra.One

    BANGALORE: Coca-Cola has launched its new integrated communication initiative – “Khushiyan Baatne Se Hi Badhti Hain” for this Diwali.

    The campaign builds on the values of inclusivity, spreading and extending happiness that India as a society revels in and something that brand Coca-Cola has always been a proponent of.

    To further amplify the campaign, Coca-Cola has tied up with Ra.One through an interesting consumer promotion through which 25 lucky respondents chosen through a computer generated lucky draw will win a chance to meet the leading star of Ra.One, Shah Rukh Khan.

    The Coca-Cola television campaign for Diwali portrays how a group of friends set out to brighten up spaces that are most dear to them with diyas, thereby spreading happiness. The movement to spread the happiness is contributed by each of the friends lighting diyas in memory of special moment in a particular place like their classroom, the girl’s hostel watchman, canteen table etc.

    Coca-Cola India and South West Asia VP – Marketing, Anupama Ahluwalia says, “We are confident that this new communication will strike a chord with the Coca-Cola consumers and serve as a catalyst in making their Diwali a little more special and memorable. This Diwali, we urge all Indians to include others in their happiness, go ahead light two more diyas for someone else”.

    The ‘Khushiyaan Baantne Se Hi Badhti Hain’ campaign has been conceptualised by McCann Erickson‘s– executive chairman McCann Worldgroup India, regional creative director Asia Pacific McCann World Group Prasoon Joshi , and co-created by executive creative director Rahul Matthew, and senior creative director Akshay Kapnadak.

    The film has been produced by Ram Madhvani of Equinox Films and the soulful background score has been composed by ace music composer Shantanu Moitra. The TVC will also be supported by a strong digital media campaign that aims to amplify the concept of sharing happiness through the act of lighting diyas.

    Speaking about the latest initiative, Joshi said, “Working on this particular campaign has been a very fulfilling experience. The McCann and Equinox team has turned this campaign around in record time. The Coca-Cola ‘Khushiyaan Baantne Se Hi Badhti Hain’ campaign encourages everyone to make this Diwali more special and memorable by undertaking the simple act of lighting two diyas for someone/ someplace else thus extending happiness and spreading joy”.

  • Whirlpool earmarks Rs 15 mn as marketing spend for Diwali promo

    Whirlpool earmarks Rs 15 mn as marketing spend for Diwali promo

    MUMBAI: Home appliance manufacturer Whirlpool has unveiled its festival promotion called ‘Sab ka Jashn Sab ki Jeet’.

    The promotion will run across the country until 31 October. The total ad and marketing spend earmarked for the Diwali promotion this year is in the range of Rs 120-150 million.

    The company is offering a cash voucher from Yatra.com worth Rs 2300 as an assured gift to its customers on every purchase of a Whirlpool appliance. The voucher will entitle the customers to avail a discount of up to Rs 1,000 on flight bookings and Rs 1,300 on hotel bookings through Yatra.com. The vouchers can be redeemed until 31March 2012 for travel and stay till 30 September 2012, allowing consumers sufficient time to plan their vacation.

    Additionally, Whirlpool is also offering a sumptuous discount of 40 per cent on Whirlpool air conditioners to 25,000 customers who will be chosen through a scratch card.

    Whirlpool India has also launched a series of products in sync with the festival season. The company has launched new models in top loading washing machines with 2 capacity points 7kg and 7.2kg and front loading in 5.5kg capacity. The all new 360° Bloom Wash, the washing machine with a different washing technology, has been launched as a part of festive as well as Whirlpool Corporation’s 100 years celebration.

    Also ‘Whirlpool ACE washstation’ has been introduced at a new lower capacity point of 6.8kg. Whirlpool has also launched new models in Microwave Grill and Convection segment and new colour finishes and capacity points in its Refrigerator range.

    As a part of the consumer promotion, the company would be giving away gifts worth Rs 1.50 billion during the festive season. The Diwali promotion and the newly launched products will be supported in print and radio and through a host of innovative activities such as OOH, digital & outdoors.

    Whirlpool India VP- corporate affairs and strategy Shantanu Dasgupta said, “We are extremely delighted to launch innovative consumer offer ‘Sab ka jashn Sab ki jeet’ for all our customers during this festive season. To enhance the festive fervor we are offering a new range of products across different categories. With a target to grow at 15-20 per cent over last year, we are aiming for sales of around Rs 7 billion during this festive season.”

  • Bodyguard forces three September releases to delay

    Bodyguard forces three September releases to delay

    MUMBAI: Going by the way Salman Khan’s Bodyguard has been performing, three September releases have been postponed.

    Hema Malini has had to push the release of her film, Tell Me O Khuda, for the umpteenth time. Initially scheduled to release in January, the film was postponed for a 30 September release. Now, the film has been pushed to 21 October release, just a week before Diwali.

    Similarly, Nikhil Advani has pushed ahead his animation film, Delhi Safary. It was also supposed to release on 30 September. Fresh dates and campaigns are being worked out.

    The release of Nagesh Kukunoor‘s Mod that was to release on 7 October has also been delayed.

  • Diwali rush for concepts, slots and TRPs

    Indian television‘s Hindi general entertainment space is at its aggressive best.As the market is about to enter its ‘harvest‘ season — with the big stakes game of Diwali placed just a month away — there is a thunderstorm brewing on the programming battlefront.

    Late last month, when Zee TV pointed a finger at Star India, making a serious charge of copyright infringement, the incident had given away the plot of the big fight coming up. Zee Telefilms issued a notice to Star demanding it withdraw all activities around its upcoming soap, tentatively titled Betiyaan, claiming ownership of the concept. Zee said it was in fact gearing up to launch its big ticket soap Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyann, produced by Creative Eye.

    Star dismissed Zee‘s charges, asserting that the show‘s writer Rekha Modi had registered the titles and the concept with various copyright bodies well before Zee made its own registration.

    According to market sources, the issue finally got resolved through an out-of-court settlement. Zee retained its original title Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyann title, whereas Star chose the name Betiyaan apni yaa…Paraaya Dhan.

    Now, compare the storylines, as offered by both the channels:

    Betiyaan apni yaa…Paraaya Dhan is the story of six daughters and one son born into a Zamindar family of Neelkanth Chanda Rana. It is the story of a father who rebukes his daughters because for him they are a burden. They have come into his life only for want of a son. Krishna, the eldest daughter and the protagonist, is based on Lord Krishna‘s character and personifies his depth of wisdom and understanding. A simple, honest and principled girl, she is the balancing factor amongst her sisters. Paraaya Dhan may be considered the story of many a home in India where it is believed that a son will take the family name further and a daughter is Paraya Dhan, states a Star India release.

    According to the Zee official communiqué, Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyann is Zee TV‘s steadfast attempt to address the ever-persistent issue of gender discrimination in our country. The show highlights certain myths that exist in our society today. States Zee TV programming head Ashvini Yardi on the Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyann, “With Ghar Ki Lahsmi… we are trying to highlight the serious issue of gender inequity that is prevalent in our society.”

    And it is again strategies and counter strategies. On 19 September, Zee TV conducted a press conference to announce its plans to launch Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyann — set in a Gujarati household — on 25 September. On 18 September, Star made the smart move of talking to the media about its October launch Paraaya Dhan well in advance. Apart from the plot, what was revealed was the time slot of 9 pm, Monday to Thursday. The result: Star could let the market know about the development a day in advance.

    What makes both these Betiyaan shows keenly fought properties? With Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyann, Zee TV is attacking one of the two most crucial time slots of Star Plus – 10 pm, where the long running soap Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki is playing. Letting the Zee TV do what it had done in the 9 pm – 10 pm slot (with success stories Saath Phere & Kassamh Se) would be suicidal for Star Plus and the channel understands that fact very well.

    “Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki is an old show with a dedicated viewership and we are confident of the soap overcoming any new challenge in its way. But we will make efforts to protect the show. I am not hinting that we will be doing stunts to keep the viewer glued. We will be taking liberties that the story line would allow and accordingly, we will be creating twists and turns in the plot to fight competition,” Star India senior creative director Shailja Kejriwal says.

    “The main strength of Ghar Ki Lakshmi… is its content and we have full faith in it. The soap is very important for us. Creative Eye is producing the show; it has been placed in the 10 pm time slot; and more importantly, we believe that the concept is very unique but very relevant. No counter strategy would be able to stop this soap,” retorts Zee TV‘s Yardi. She adds that Zee wouldn‘t be resorting to any exercise such as simultaneous premiere on its network channels to expand the viewership.

    And one show that will be making its best efforts for not getting caught in this exchange of fire would be Sony‘s brand new celebrity dance show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. Reason: Jhalak.. again has been placed in the crucial slot of 10 pm, Wednesday and Thursday.

    It seems the leading channels are almost done with their key Diwali arrangements. With the introduction of Ghar Ki Lakshmi… in the 10 pm slot, Zee TV has revamped its 10 – 11 pm slot. L‘il Champs will now air Friday-Saturday at 10 pm. Shabaash India has been shiifted to the Monday -Tuesday 10.30 pm slot, while Johny Aala Re will now air on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10.30 pm.

    Star One is meanwhile revamping its prime time band as well, with the entry of Nach Baliye 2 on 25 September (placed in the 8:30 pm slot) and the launch coincides with the Ghar Ki Lakshmi… launch in terms of dates. In October, two other soaps Saathi Re and Betiyaan apni yaa…Paraaya Dhan will mark the launch of new primetime programming band, with Saathi Re airing at 8:30 pm followed by Betiyaan apni yaa…Paraaya Dhan at 9 pm.

    After Jhalak.., Sony‘s Diwali plans would revolve around two upcoming properties: a prime time soap Kaajaal and a reality-based show titled Big Boss. Though the channel is yet to reveal its plans about these two shows, indications are that they will be placed in the 9 to 10 pm slot.