ITV

Tag: Udta Punjab

  • Tulsea hires Suchir Batra as SVP: reports

    Tulsea hires Suchir Batra as SVP: reports

    MUMBAI: Talent and content management company Tulsea has hired WME business affairs executive Suchir Batra as SVP, according to a report by Deadline. Batra will lead the company’s expanded international business based in Los Angeles.

    He will leverage his experience as an entertainment lawyer, agent and biz-affairs executive to come up with opportunities that are aligned with Tulsea’s plans and presence in India. He will also work with subsidiaries in India and Africa to generate more opportunities for Tulsea’s roster of talent, corporate and production company clients.

    Batra has previously worked at Fullscreen and Greenberg Traurig. He was also an agent at William Morris Agency before the Endeavor merger, helping to launch William Morris Consulting in the UK.

    Mumbai-based Tulsea, founded by Datta Dave and Chaitanya Hegde, has helped in getting writer and director talent for TV series and films including Sacred Games, Leila, Ghoul, Mirzapur, Made in Heaven, Metro Park, Brown Nation, Lipstick Under My Burkha, Udta Punjab, NH10, Masaan and Uri: The Surgical Strike.

    Additionally, Tulsea is also a strategic advisor for international and domestic studios, production companies and platforms.

  • Cinekorn Entertainment associates with Viacom India for film Ring

    Cinekorn Entertainment associates with Viacom India for film Ring

    MUMBAI: Cinekorn Entertainment, a content house that works on distribution of films on satellite and digital platforms, has announced their association with Viacom India.

    The former has has acquired the Indian theatrical distribution rights of the third instalment of the popular horror franchise: The Ring, which is slated to release in India on 10 February. The film features Matilda Lutz, Alex Roe, Johnny Galecki, Aimee Teegarden, Bonnie Morgan and Vincent D’Onofrio.

    Cinekorn founder Kalapi Nagada said, “Rings is a bloodcurdling, horrendous horror film and will do strikingly well on the box office since people are waiting earnestly. One of the largest releases with 1100+ no of screens, Rings will be distributed by Cinekorn as one of the biggest Hollywood films in India.”

    Cinekorn has in the past acquired distribution rights for successful Hindi & English films such as Rustom, Udta Punjab, 300, Batman v Superman and The legend of Tarzan, among other. Cinekorn has a big library of Tamil, Telugu & Kannada films dubbed in Hindi.

    The company plans to further expand and import a wide array of Hollywood films for Indian theatrical viewing and satellites across India. Hollywood movies has good potential viewership in India and films such as Jurassic world, 300, Jungle book have delivered excellent numbers on the Indian box office.

  • ‘Udta Punjab’ exclusively available on Netflix Worldwide

    ‘Udta Punjab’ exclusively available on Netflix Worldwide

    MUMBAI: Netflix is the exclusive home of critically-acclaimed crime film Udta Punjab from 1 January. Netflix members in 190 countries around the world will be able to stream the original film for the first time after its theatrical release.

    Udta Punjab tells the story of socio-economic decline in the affluent north Indian state of Punjab due to drug abuse. Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Diljit Dosanjh in the lead roles play characters from different walks of life, and the film journeys into the artificial highs and the real lows they face in their fight against drugs.

    Above all, the movie explores that the famed Punjabi spirit – you may be knocked down, but this never-say-die attitude means you’ll have the audacity to look drugs in the eye and say, “Drugs di maa di!”

    Directed by Abhishek Chaubey, Udta Punjab is produced by Balaji Motion Pictures in collaboration with Phantom Productions.

    Video:

    Watch the trailer here.

  • ‘Udta Punjab’ exclusively available on Netflix Worldwide

    ‘Udta Punjab’ exclusively available on Netflix Worldwide

    MUMBAI: Netflix is the exclusive home of critically-acclaimed crime film Udta Punjab from 1 January. Netflix members in 190 countries around the world will be able to stream the original film for the first time after its theatrical release.

    Udta Punjab tells the story of socio-economic decline in the affluent north Indian state of Punjab due to drug abuse. Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Diljit Dosanjh in the lead roles play characters from different walks of life, and the film journeys into the artificial highs and the real lows they face in their fight against drugs.

    Above all, the movie explores that the famed Punjabi spirit – you may be knocked down, but this never-say-die attitude means you’ll have the audacity to look drugs in the eye and say, “Drugs di maa di!”

    Directed by Abhishek Chaubey, Udta Punjab is produced by Balaji Motion Pictures in collaboration with Phantom Productions.

    Video:

    Watch the trailer here.

  • CNN-News18 brings ‘The Bollywood Roundtables’ fifth edition with Rajeev Masand

    CNN-News18 brings ‘The Bollywood Roundtables’ fifth edition with Rajeev Masand

    MUMBAI: CNN-News18 is coming up with the fifth edition of its special talk show The Bollywood Roundtables. Hosted by entertainment editor Rajeev Masand, the show is a year-end omnibus on Bollywood and features India’s most celebrated and finest directors, actors and actresses who are behind the most talked about films and performances of the year.

    The show will air from 17 December every Saturday at 6 pm and Sunday at 8 pm till 1 January. It features candid, free-wheeling and eye opening conversations with guests discussing their inspiration, influences and challenges they face.

    The first episode will see Sonam Kapoor (Neerja), Alia Bhatt (Udta Punjab), Radhika Apte (Phobia & Parched), Anushka Sharma (Sultan & Ae Dil Hai Mushkil) and Vidya Balan (Kahaani 2) open up about their process. Amitabh Bachchan (Pink), Ranbir Kapoor (Ae Dil Hai Mushkil), Sushant Singh Rajput (MS Dhoni: The Untold Story), Shahid Kapoor and Diljit Dosanjh (Udta Punjab) will discuss their craft in the second episode.

    The Directors Roundtable will feature Karan Johar (Ae Dil Hai Mushkil), Ali Abbas Zafar (Sultan), Ram Madhvani (Neerja), Shakun Batra (Kapoor & Sons), Abhishek Chaubey (Udta Punjab) and Nitesh Tiwari (Dangal) discussing their work.

  • CNN-News18 brings ‘The Bollywood Roundtables’ fifth edition with Rajeev Masand

    CNN-News18 brings ‘The Bollywood Roundtables’ fifth edition with Rajeev Masand

    MUMBAI: CNN-News18 is coming up with the fifth edition of its special talk show The Bollywood Roundtables. Hosted by entertainment editor Rajeev Masand, the show is a year-end omnibus on Bollywood and features India’s most celebrated and finest directors, actors and actresses who are behind the most talked about films and performances of the year.

    The show will air from 17 December every Saturday at 6 pm and Sunday at 8 pm till 1 January. It features candid, free-wheeling and eye opening conversations with guests discussing their inspiration, influences and challenges they face.

    The first episode will see Sonam Kapoor (Neerja), Alia Bhatt (Udta Punjab), Radhika Apte (Phobia & Parched), Anushka Sharma (Sultan & Ae Dil Hai Mushkil) and Vidya Balan (Kahaani 2) open up about their process. Amitabh Bachchan (Pink), Ranbir Kapoor (Ae Dil Hai Mushkil), Sushant Singh Rajput (MS Dhoni: The Untold Story), Shahid Kapoor and Diljit Dosanjh (Udta Punjab) will discuss their craft in the second episode.

    The Directors Roundtable will feature Karan Johar (Ae Dil Hai Mushkil), Ali Abbas Zafar (Sultan), Ram Madhvani (Neerja), Shakun Batra (Kapoor & Sons), Abhishek Chaubey (Udta Punjab) and Nitesh Tiwari (Dangal) discussing their work.

  • Piracy severely dents Balaji consolidated numbers in Q2-17

    Piracy severely dents Balaji consolidated numbers in Q2-17

    BENGALURU: Despite almost doubling of year-over-year consolidated revenue for the quarter ended 30 September 2016 (Q2-17, current quarter), Ekta Kapoor’s Balaji Telefilms Limited (Balaji) reported a consolidated loss of Rs 28 crore, as compared to Profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 3.92 crore for the corresponding year ago quarter. The company attributes higher revenue to four films it released in the half year ended 30 September 2016 (H!-17, current half-year) as compared to no releases in H1-16. Balaji says in its investor presentation that piracy of its movies Great Grand Masti and Udta Punjab led to an approximate loss of Rs 36 crore in revenues, severely impacting its profitability in the period.

    The company reported 1.92 times higher revenue (TIO) in the current quarter at Rs 105.91 crore as compared to Rs 55.08 crore in Q2-16, and comparatively, just a little lower than the Rs 117.38 crore in the immediate trailing quarter Q1-17.

    Consolidated operating loss (negative EBIDTA) in Q2-17 was Rs 26.18 crore as compared to an operating profit (positive EBIDTA) in Q2-16 of Rs 6.33 crore.

    On a standalone basis, Balaji Telefilms Limited (BTL) – the television arm reported lower a net profit of Rs 4.4 crore in the current quarter versus Rs 6.6 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter. Standalone revenues for Q2-17 and Q2-16 were Rs 61.2 crore and Rs 53.2 crore respectively.

    Revenue from BTL’s Commissioned Programs segment in Q2-17 was Rs 60.9 crore, while for Q2-16 it was Rs 48.3 crore. Programming hours for Q2-17 were 231 hours, significantly higher than the 199 hours reported for the corresponding year ago quarter. Net realisation per hour in Q2-17 was higher at Rs 26.3 lakh as compared to Rs 24.2 lakh in Q2-16. Gross margin and gross margin per hour were lower at Rs 14.7 crore and Rs 6.4 lakh in Q2-17 as compared to Rs 16.9 crore and Rs 8.5 lakh in Q2-16 respectively.

    Balaji says that increase in programming hours in this quarter was due to certain special episodes being commissioned during the quarter for its daily soaps; realisation per hour has improved due to better episodic fees; Gross margins have improved this quarter and will continue to improve once the newer shows stabilise. Shows launched post Q2-17 were Naagin 2 on Colors, Chandra Nandni and Pardes Mein Hai Meraa Dill on Star Plus.

    Revenue from Balaji’s digital business – ALT- was Nil as the company is getting ready to launch commercial services in early Q4 FY17. Other Income from ALT was Rs 3.3 crore in the current quarter as compared to Nil in Q2-16.

    Revenue from Balaj’s movie business for Q2-17 was Rs 43.2 crore against Rs 1.6 crore in Q2-16. The movie business had an operating loss of Rs 28 crore in the current quarter. Operating loss in the corresponding year ago quarter was Rs 4.2 crore. Total amount invested as of 30 September 2016 in movies that are under production was Rs 44.1 crore says the company.

    Total Expenditure in the current quarter almost tripled (by 2.94 times) y-o-y at Rs 134.96 crore (127.4 percent of TIO) as compared to Rs 45.85 crore (83.2 percent of TIO) in Q2-16. Cost of Production/Acquisition and Telecast Fees in Q2-17 was Rs 78.55 crore (74.2 percent of TIO), 2.1 percent lower than Rs 80.22 crore (145.6 percent of TIO) in the corresponding year ago quarter.

    Marketing and distribution expense in Q2-17 increased to Rs 19.55 crore as compared to Rs 0.16 crore in Q2-16. Employee Benefit Expense in the current quarter increased 36/9 percent y-o-y to Rs 6.81 crore (6/4 percent of TIO) as compared to Rs 4.97 crore (9 percent of TIO) in Q2-16. Other expenditure in Q2-17 increased 33.8 percent y-o-y to Rs 9.42 crore as compared to Rs 7/04 crore.

    Note: The unit of currency in this report is the Indian rupee – Rs (also conventionally represented by INR). The Indian numbering system or the Vedic numbering system has been used to denote money values. The basic conversion to the international norm would be:

    (a) 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10,000,000 = 10 million = 1 crore.

    (b) 10,000 lakh = 100 crore = 1 arab = 1 billion.

  • Piracy severely dents Balaji consolidated numbers in Q2-17

    Piracy severely dents Balaji consolidated numbers in Q2-17

    BENGALURU: Despite almost doubling of year-over-year consolidated revenue for the quarter ended 30 September 2016 (Q2-17, current quarter), Ekta Kapoor’s Balaji Telefilms Limited (Balaji) reported a consolidated loss of Rs 28 crore, as compared to Profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 3.92 crore for the corresponding year ago quarter. The company attributes higher revenue to four films it released in the half year ended 30 September 2016 (H!-17, current half-year) as compared to no releases in H1-16. Balaji says in its investor presentation that piracy of its movies Great Grand Masti and Udta Punjab led to an approximate loss of Rs 36 crore in revenues, severely impacting its profitability in the period.

    The company reported 1.92 times higher revenue (TIO) in the current quarter at Rs 105.91 crore as compared to Rs 55.08 crore in Q2-16, and comparatively, just a little lower than the Rs 117.38 crore in the immediate trailing quarter Q1-17.

    Consolidated operating loss (negative EBIDTA) in Q2-17 was Rs 26.18 crore as compared to an operating profit (positive EBIDTA) in Q2-16 of Rs 6.33 crore.

    On a standalone basis, Balaji Telefilms Limited (BTL) – the television arm reported lower a net profit of Rs 4.4 crore in the current quarter versus Rs 6.6 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter. Standalone revenues for Q2-17 and Q2-16 were Rs 61.2 crore and Rs 53.2 crore respectively.

    Revenue from BTL’s Commissioned Programs segment in Q2-17 was Rs 60.9 crore, while for Q2-16 it was Rs 48.3 crore. Programming hours for Q2-17 were 231 hours, significantly higher than the 199 hours reported for the corresponding year ago quarter. Net realisation per hour in Q2-17 was higher at Rs 26.3 lakh as compared to Rs 24.2 lakh in Q2-16. Gross margin and gross margin per hour were lower at Rs 14.7 crore and Rs 6.4 lakh in Q2-17 as compared to Rs 16.9 crore and Rs 8.5 lakh in Q2-16 respectively.

    Balaji says that increase in programming hours in this quarter was due to certain special episodes being commissioned during the quarter for its daily soaps; realisation per hour has improved due to better episodic fees; Gross margins have improved this quarter and will continue to improve once the newer shows stabilise. Shows launched post Q2-17 were Naagin 2 on Colors, Chandra Nandni and Pardes Mein Hai Meraa Dill on Star Plus.

    Revenue from Balaji’s digital business – ALT- was Nil as the company is getting ready to launch commercial services in early Q4 FY17. Other Income from ALT was Rs 3.3 crore in the current quarter as compared to Nil in Q2-16.

    Revenue from Balaj’s movie business for Q2-17 was Rs 43.2 crore against Rs 1.6 crore in Q2-16. The movie business had an operating loss of Rs 28 crore in the current quarter. Operating loss in the corresponding year ago quarter was Rs 4.2 crore. Total amount invested as of 30 September 2016 in movies that are under production was Rs 44.1 crore says the company.

    Total Expenditure in the current quarter almost tripled (by 2.94 times) y-o-y at Rs 134.96 crore (127.4 percent of TIO) as compared to Rs 45.85 crore (83.2 percent of TIO) in Q2-16. Cost of Production/Acquisition and Telecast Fees in Q2-17 was Rs 78.55 crore (74.2 percent of TIO), 2.1 percent lower than Rs 80.22 crore (145.6 percent of TIO) in the corresponding year ago quarter.

    Marketing and distribution expense in Q2-17 increased to Rs 19.55 crore as compared to Rs 0.16 crore in Q2-16. Employee Benefit Expense in the current quarter increased 36/9 percent y-o-y to Rs 6.81 crore (6/4 percent of TIO) as compared to Rs 4.97 crore (9 percent of TIO) in Q2-16. Other expenditure in Q2-17 increased 33.8 percent y-o-y to Rs 9.42 crore as compared to Rs 7/04 crore.

    Note: The unit of currency in this report is the Indian rupee – Rs (also conventionally represented by INR). The Indian numbering system or the Vedic numbering system has been used to denote money values. The basic conversion to the international norm would be:

    (a) 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10,000,000 = 10 million = 1 crore.

    (b) 10,000 lakh = 100 crore = 1 arab = 1 billion.

  • Balaji Telefilms to restructure its motion picture business

    Balaji Telefilms to restructure its motion picture business

    MUMBAI: It’s restructuring time at Balaji Telefilms Ltd (BTL). The company has informed the Bombay Stock Exchange that it has got the board approval to rejig some of the businesses its subsidiary companies Balaji Motion Pictures Ltd (BMPL) and Bolt Media Ltd (BML).

    BMPL does both, film production and distribution. The film production part of BMPL is being carved out and demerged with BTL, with the former being left with film distribution on its plate on which it will focus. Additionally, BTL is also being merged into BTL. BML was set up help BTL have a presence in non-fiction, reality and digital content a few years ago.

    BMPL reported a revenue of Rs 22.82 crore and it had a negative net worth of Rs 47.58 crore in the year to 31 March 2016. In the past year, the company produced films such as Udta Punjab, Kya Kool Hain Hum 3, Azhar, Great Grand Mastii, and A Flying Jatt. The films that are slated to be released under its banner over the next year include: the Kamal Hassan-directed Vishwaroopam II, the Ken Ghosh-directed XXX, the Mohit Suri-directed Half Girlfriend, and the Sashanka Ghosh directed Veera Di Wedding.

    BMPL had once been placed among the top five film production companies in India. BML had revenues of Rs 65 lakh in the same period with its net worth getting wiped out to the tune of Rs 1.74 crore.

    The entire transaction – not involving any cash flow – will not impact BTL’s share capital. However, BMPL’s equity will see a reduction. Axis Capital is advising to BTL with Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas acting as the legal advisor.

    BTL says it is resorting to this so as help streamline the group’s structure as BTL is also into production. The amalgamation and demerger will result in economies of scale, improve capital allocation, cost and operational efficiency, cash flows, and utilization of resources.

    Says BTL joint managing director Ekta Kapoor: “This will help us to focus more efficiently on our content genres and formats.” Adds BTL group CEO Sameer Nair: “We are committed to improving margins and profitability and consolidation of our operations is a step in that direction leading to a better value creation for our shareholders. This will also ensure more efficient use of our senior management’s bandwidth, thereby allowing more time to focus on ALT Digital, our digital foray, which is set to redefine the entertainment viewing experience of Indians in India and across the globe.”

    The restructuring proposal, however, awaits shareholder and other legal approvals.

  • Balaji Telefilms to restructure its motion picture business

    Balaji Telefilms to restructure its motion picture business

    MUMBAI: It’s restructuring time at Balaji Telefilms Ltd (BTL). The company has informed the Bombay Stock Exchange that it has got the board approval to rejig some of the businesses its subsidiary companies Balaji Motion Pictures Ltd (BMPL) and Bolt Media Ltd (BML).

    BMPL does both, film production and distribution. The film production part of BMPL is being carved out and demerged with BTL, with the former being left with film distribution on its plate on which it will focus. Additionally, BTL is also being merged into BTL. BML was set up help BTL have a presence in non-fiction, reality and digital content a few years ago.

    BMPL reported a revenue of Rs 22.82 crore and it had a negative net worth of Rs 47.58 crore in the year to 31 March 2016. In the past year, the company produced films such as Udta Punjab, Kya Kool Hain Hum 3, Azhar, Great Grand Mastii, and A Flying Jatt. The films that are slated to be released under its banner over the next year include: the Kamal Hassan-directed Vishwaroopam II, the Ken Ghosh-directed XXX, the Mohit Suri-directed Half Girlfriend, and the Sashanka Ghosh directed Veera Di Wedding.

    BMPL had once been placed among the top five film production companies in India. BML had revenues of Rs 65 lakh in the same period with its net worth getting wiped out to the tune of Rs 1.74 crore.

    The entire transaction – not involving any cash flow – will not impact BTL’s share capital. However, BMPL’s equity will see a reduction. Axis Capital is advising to BTL with Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas acting as the legal advisor.

    BTL says it is resorting to this so as help streamline the group’s structure as BTL is also into production. The amalgamation and demerger will result in economies of scale, improve capital allocation, cost and operational efficiency, cash flows, and utilization of resources.

    Says BTL joint managing director Ekta Kapoor: “This will help us to focus more efficiently on our content genres and formats.” Adds BTL group CEO Sameer Nair: “We are committed to improving margins and profitability and consolidation of our operations is a step in that direction leading to a better value creation for our shareholders. This will also ensure more efficient use of our senior management’s bandwidth, thereby allowing more time to focus on ALT Digital, our digital foray, which is set to redefine the entertainment viewing experience of Indians in India and across the globe.”

    The restructuring proposal, however, awaits shareholder and other legal approvals.