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Tag: Ketan Mehta

  • Catch the movie ‘Motu Patlu in Deep Sea Adventure’ only on Nickelodeon

    Catch the movie ‘Motu Patlu in Deep Sea Adventure’ only on Nickelodeon

    MUMBAI: From comic books to television shows and now TV specials; the two iconic characters ‘Motu’ and ‘Patlu’ have narrated their famous tales to all generations over time through Lot Pot Comics. The franchise has come a long way where the famous duo is now engaging kids on Nickelodeon through hilarious episodes, TV specials, digital and even on-ground activations. Expanding this franchise, Nickelodeon, the store-house of comedy where “Funny Rules”, is all set to telecast their third movie ‘MotuPatlu in Deep Sea Adventure’ thisSaturday, 24th May at 10:30 am.

    Motu Patlu takes kids on an adventurous underwater journey this Saturday, 24th May at 10:30 am in their new movie ‘MotuPatlu in Deep Sea Adventure’. Motu and Patlu are shipwrecked and captured by the vile King Shark. What follows then is a series of comic situations, combined with a thrilling underwater adventure, as the awesome-twosome fight their way to save their lives.

    Commenting on the TV Special, Nina Elavia Jaipuria – EVP & Business Head, Kids Cluster, Viacom18 Media Pvt. Ltd. says, “Motu and Patlu continue to make kids laugh with their daily dose of entertainment on Nickelodeon. We are taking the engagement to a whole new level with Motu and Patlu travelling from Furfuri Nagar to explore the deep blue seas. We are confident that the kids will enjoy the action-packed adventure and comedy the movie will bring.”

    Maya Digital Studios CMD Ketan Mehta said, “Given the success of the MotuPatlu franchise, we decided to create the third movie with Nickelodeon. It only reinstates the fact that the audience loves the Indian animation content. We will continue this partnership with Nickelodeon and hope to receive the same amount of love from kids for this.”

    Nickelodeon is further engaging kids with ‘Nickelodeon Comedy Elections’, an one-of-its-kind campaign in which kids get a chance to vote for their favorite show – MotuPatlu or PakdamPakdai. If their show gets the maximum votes, they stand to win goodies like mobile phones and PSP’s.

     

    To participate, kids have to watch MotuPatlu andPakdamPakdai between 6 to 7 pm daily and voice their choice through SMS to 56882 or dial 5056882 from Vodafone, Aircel, Airtel, Idea, Reliance, Tata mobile & Airtel Landline/ 1255568 from BSNL Landline, mobile & MTNL mobile and even vote Online at http://www.nickindia.com/.

     
    Join Motu and Patlu in their adventurous journey as they sail on the blue seas, dodging various obstacles, on Saturday, 24th May at 10:30 am only on Nickelodeon

  • Maya Digital Studios launches its 2D animation department

    Maya Digital Studios launches its 2D animation department

    MUMBAI: One of the pioneers in the art and technology of animation and visual effects in India – Maya Digital Studios – has announced its entry into 2D animation. The studio has launched its new 2D animation department with advance technology and facilities. After the huge success of its IPRs, Motu Patlu and Vir in 3D, Maya is now aiming to create a benchmark in 2D segment of domestic television.

     

    Maya Digital Studios chairman and MD Ketan Mehta said in a press statement: “India’s animation sector is growing at a rapid pace. Also there is an increased use of animation in TV advertisements creating a need for good animation studios with 2D and 3D specialisation. As per FICCI KPMG report 2014, the Indian TV advertisement industry size is expected to increase from Rs 136 billion in 2013 to Rs 253 billion in 2017 at a CAGR of 13 per cent. As the advertising industry grows it is expected that the share of animation driven advertisements will also grow, given that animated advertisements usually strike a better chord with the target group of children and young adults. Hence it was a very strategic move to introduce 2D animation at Maya Digital studios.”

     

    Marking the launch of its new 2D animation department, Maya Digital Studios is also hiring professionals for the position of concept artists, storyboard artists and story screenplay artists for their new department.

     

    Commenting on the expansion of animation industry, Mehta further added: “The current size of the industry is estimated at US$ 247 million and expected to grow at 15-20 per cent per annum. Indian animation companies and studios have been moving up the value chain to create their own intellectual property rights. 2D animation software is a fun way to create amazing scenes from one’s imagination; hence our new 2D animation segment allows us to build more IPR’s.  We are already in talks with broadcasters for two new IPR’s and are extensively looking at tapping the domestic television industry in coming years.”

     

    Maya Digital Studios has specialised in stereoscopic 3D and offers services for S3D visual effects, S3D CG rendered animation and with the new 2D animation department is all set to capture the growing Indian market.

  • Maya Digital Studio announces Motu Patlu Season 3

    Maya Digital Studio announces Motu Patlu Season 3

    MUMBAI: Maya Digital Studio in association with Nickelodean announced the launch of the 3rd season of their renowned comic series Motu Patlu. A favorite amongst kids and parents, the new series will be aired from 1stMarch, 2014 onwards at 12:30 noon, 4:30pm and 6:00 pm everyday.

    Ketan Mehta, Chairman & Managing Director, Maya Digital Studios, said, “Given the success of Motu Patlu and the roaring TRP, Nickelodeon decided to launch Motu Patlu season 3. We have signed up a new agreement of series of episodes and couple of feature film of 70 minutes”. He further added, “The request for the third season gives us the assurance that we are on right track. It also reinstates the fact that the audience loves Indian animation content, if it is done well. We hope to continue receiving this love from our audience in the 3rd season too”.

    Already a phenomenon in India, MotuPatlu is one of kid’s favorite characters and it is the only Indian kids’ show, which is able to compete with the best of the world. Inspired from the characters of Lot Pot Comics, Motu Patlu are lively comic capers that are set in the beautiful city of Furfuri Nagariya and are as similar as chalk and cheese. The awesome twosomes are always on an adventurous expedition and have an uncanny ability to get into tricky situations. The comic duo being the highest TRP gainers will be seen again on Nickelodean channel with all-new slapstick from 1st March onwards.

     

  • Maya Digital Studios consulted eye specialists for better viewing

    Maya Digital Studios consulted eye specialists for better viewing

    MUMBAI: Maya Digital Studios, the company that pioneered the art and technology of animation and visual effects in India, has successfully converted Indian cinema’s most landmark film from 2D to Stereoscopic 3D. 

    Maya consulted several eye specialists along with cinematographers, stereographers, image processing engineers and software programme developers in order to get the right depth map, offset between the two sets of images. This was to ensure that the viewing of the final 3D output of Sholay is as good as the epic movie.

    “Sholay is as sacrosanct as the Indian cinema itself; hence it had to be treated accordingly, with great care and utmost respect. In order to make the viewing experience of Sholay in 3D as good as the movie, we also consulted Hollywood DI, a renowned post production studio in the US, which provided us additional technical consultation to assure the finest quality output”, said Maya Digital Studios MD and chairman Ketan Mehta.

    He further added, “Some people feel like taking off the glasses while watching a 3D film for bit. But then the film looks hazy without glasses. Taking this insight into consideration, we at Maya adjusted the offset in the images to such an extent that even without wearing the glasses; the film doesn’t come across as hazy or blurred. While the 3D glasses, makes the viewing better, even the lack of the glasses, doesn’t rob the film of its viewing pleasure.”

  • Disney India goes brave with ‘Vir: The Robot Boy’

    Disney India goes brave with ‘Vir: The Robot Boy’

    MUMBAI: Riding on the immense popularity of Chota Bheem and Motlu Patlu comes one more animation series with the ‘made in India’ tag.

    Launching on Hungama TV on 9 November and created by Maya Digital Studio, Vir: The Robot Boy, is a sci-fi animation that promises to tickle the kids’ funny bone while teaching them a lesson or two about life.

    With Vir, we intend to build further on the weekend slot by bringing engaging and relevant shows on Saturday as well exults Prabhu

    Waxing eloquent about ‘India’s first animated fiction show’, Maya Digital Studio managing director and chairman Ketan Mehta says: “It has been made on a big scale. It has multiple characters and a well-developed storyline revolving around the central character, Vir, a young boy who is a robot with all human emotions instilled in him.”

    Hungama, which has recently had a makeover, wanted to introduce fresh new programming that embodies its mischievous, youthful spirit. And what better than the weekend to bring in the new series!

    “Currently, we have Ninja Warriors on Sunday, which is performing exceedingly well and is a favourite among kids. With Vir, we intend to build further on the weekend slot by bringing engaging and relevant shows on Saturday as well,” exults Disney UTV director, programming, Kids Network, Devika Prabhu.

    Vir: The Robot Boy is set in the heart of Delhi and takes viewers through the wonderful journey of Vir, the robot, created by brilliant scientist Dr Prem Sahay. The extremely intelligent, extra emotional and fearlessly funny Vir manages to stay out of harm’s way, but not without some hilarious moments and a lot of help from his two sidekicks.

    About the collaboration with Maya Digital, Prabhu says: “Creativity and innovation is at the heart of what we do and we are always looking for partners with whom we can collaborate to create compelling content for our audiences. We were really happy to associate with Maya Digital on this series – Vir: The Robot Boy and we are confident that kids will love the local narrative, humour and situations that Vir and his friends – Chulbul, Tiklu and Sajjani, find themselves in.”

    Hungama believes in letting children experience stories first-hand by creating engagement opportunities beyond television. This time too, the channel is confident about its new series and plans to engage with its viewers in interesting new ways, like it did with “Shinchan Parivaar Iss Ravivaar”.

    According to Mehta, times are changing for the Indian animation industry. “We already have Indian animated shows like Chota Bheem and Motlu Patlu that have become immensely popular. With Vir, we are expanding more. The channels, till now, were basically thriving on recycling of American or Japanese shows. But slowly, they are opening up to the idea of home-grown shows. To penetrate the Indian market, it is important to come up with Indian content that is relatable to the audience,” he says.

    Mehta feels the indigenous animation industry has finally come of age and is finally ready to produce content, which is at par with countries leading the genre.

    “We are now doing a wide variety of shows in the animation sector. Our animation industry is just a decade old. Now, I feel there’s enough manpower for the industry to grow rapidly,” he says and hopes Indian audiences will soon be open to adult animation series such as The Simpsons.

  • 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 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.

  • Art director Ashish Lakhia passes away

    Art director Ashish Lakhia passes away

    MUMBAI: Art director Ashish Lakhia, aged 49, passed away in Ahmedabad on Sunday morning of multiple organ failure.

    Said a grieving actor – director Amole Gupte, “A lot more than just art director, Ashish was a painting prodigy as a child and, in fact, had inspired me to become a painter. His passing away is an irreparable loss for me.”

    Remembered for his art direction in Ketan Mehta‘s Holi, Mirch Masala and Maya Memsaab among others, where he worked in tandem with his mother Meera, Lakhia was brother of actor Aditya Lakhia aka ‘Kachra‘ of Lagaan and also a cousin of director Apoorva Lakhia.

    Besides being into art direction, Lakhia has also made many documentary films. Said Apoorva, “It‘s a pity that he was taken as only an art-house artiste. I only wish our industry had got him into the mainstream mould.”

  • Third Eye Fest ends with Rang Rasiya

    Third Eye Fest ends with Rang Rasiya

    MUMBAI: The 10th Third Eye Asian Film Festival, that got underway on 22 December, screened as many as 100 feature films and 50 short films.


    The films were selected from among over 400 entries received from different Asian Countries including Iran, China, Japan, Israel, Philippines and Indonesia.


    The festival that had Turkey as the focus country, promoted and showcased several Turkish films like My Marlon And Brando, Uzak ( Distant) and Yamurta (Egg) that were earlier appreciated at other festivals around the world.


    The seven-day affair paid tributes to departed film luminaries like Ashok Kumar and Dev Anand whose cult film Guide was screened in the presence of his son Suniel. Tributes were paid to Ashok Kumar by screening of his B R Chopra-starrer Gumrah.


    The festival, that rolled with the premiere of the Chinese film 11 Flowers, ended with Ketan Mehta‘s Rang Rasiya.

  • Chinese film 11 Flowers to open Third Eye fest

    Chinese film 11 Flowers to open Third Eye fest

    MUMBAI: The 10th edition of the Third Eye Film Festival will open with the screening of the Chinese film 11 Flowers directed by Xioshuai Wang at the Ravindra Natya Mandir, Mumbai on 22 December.


    While Iranian director Asghar Farahadi‘s A Sepration will be the centre piece of the festival, Ketan Mehta‘s yet unreleased film, Rang Rasiya will be the closing film.


    This year‘s festival is to be dedicated to the fond memories of star-filmmaker Dev Anand. As a tribute to him, his memorable film Guide will be screened during the festival.


    The festival will commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune. As a part of the commemoration, a film each of the FTII‘s six alumni, who have made India proud by their respective work, will be screened. The six celebrated alumni are Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Girish Kasaravalli, Vikas Desai, Jahnu Barua, Ketan Mehta and Shaji Karun.


    The festival will also commemorate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore by screening seven Bengali films made on his published stories by Satyajit Ray (Charulata and Teen Kanya), Tapan Sinha (Kabuliwala, Kshudito Pashan and Atithi) and Rituparno Ghosh (Choker Bali and Nauka Dubi).


    On the occasion of his 100th birth anniversary this year, the Festival will pay homage to Ashok Kumar. On the occasion, BR Chopra‘s Gumrah, rated as one of his best starrers will be screened.


    Organised by Asian Film Foundation in collaboration with PL Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy and supported by the state government of Maharashtra, the Festival will showcase 84 select feature films and 45 short fiction films from filmmaking countries across the Asian continent.


    All the films will be screened at the two theatres in the Ravindra Natya Mandir complex from 10 am to 8.30 pm.