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Tag: Viacom18 Motion Pictures

  • Sameer Gogate returns to Viacom18 as Colors business head

    Sameer Gogate returns to Viacom18 as Colors business head

    MUMBAI: When general manager Sameer Gogate put in his papers at BBC Studios, it was not clear why and where he was headed. Why would someone give up a plum secure job working with the Beeb which many an executive joins with a retirement plan in mind?

    That clarity came in mid-this week, when whispers started that he was actually heading back to his alma mater – Viacom18 – now called JioStar, followed the merger  with Disney Star India. 

    But what would he be doing there, was the question? Isn’t the company extremely top heavy with so many bosses that not even department executives know who is reporting to whom and who has the responsibility for a particular function?

    That clarity too came when Gogate’s responsibility was leaked. He would be in charge of the business of Colors, Viacom18’s star channel.  In his new role, Gogate will report to Alok Jain, head of cluster entertainment at JioStar.

    For the record, Gogate joining Viacom18 is like returning home for him  as he was once deeply embedded in its ecosystem. He was director of commercial and syndication, overseeing content syndication, film acquisitions, and co-productions for Viacom18 Motion Pictures and he also had a position at Colors, where  he managed music and format licensing, talent management, and group commercial strategy a few years ago.

    Gogate brings a wealth of experience from his time at BBC Studios, where he played a pivotal role since 2019 in producing local adaptations of popular BBC formats, including multiple seasons of Criminal Justice and Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa (Dancing with the Stars). He also oversaw the creation of original series such as Highway Love, Ishq in the Air, School of Lies, and Tujhpe Main Fida. Among his recent successes was the IMDb top-ten hit, The Shekhar Suman Show.

    Prior to BBC Studios, Gogate worked at Vuclip as Head of Monetisation, Commercial, and Distribution, where he managed revenue operations and key content partnerships. He also held senior roles at Eros International Media, Endemol India, Viacom18, and EY. 

    Meanwhile, following Gogate’s departure, BBC Studios India has announced an interim leadership arrangement. Deepa Nair, head of business and legal affairs, and Sachin Mahajan, head of finance, will jointly oversee the production team in India. Stanley Fernandes will continue leading the channels & streaming and content sales divisions for India and South Asia. The company has yet to announce a permanent successor for Gogate.

  • Eros International’s Andhadhun Grosses Over $14 Million in China in First Weekend

    Eros International’s Andhadhun Grosses Over $14 Million in China in First Weekend

    Isle of Man, April 8, 2019– Eros International Plc (NYSE: EROS) (“Eros” or “the Company”), a Global Indian Entertainment Company, today announced that Andhadhun, an engaging thriller starring Tabu, Ayushmann Khurrana and Radhika Apte has collected over $14.0 million within four days of its release in China. Andhadhun was released in China on April 3, 2019 and continues to enjoy a very strong box office performance. The film was originally released theatrically in India and internationally on October 5, 2018 to widespread critical acclaim. Andhadhun was produced by Viacom18 Motion Pictures and Matchbox Pictures, and distributed internationally by Eros International.

    Speaking on the film’s performance, Kumar Ahuja, President of Business Development, Eros International, said, “With the success of Bajrangi Bhaijaan and previous Indian releases, China has emerged as a key market and a major box office earner for Indian films. We are delighted with the impressive run the film is enjoying and how the fans in the country can now witness the magic of Andhadhun unfold in theatres across the country.”

  • Viacom18 Motion Pictures forays into digital content

    Viacom18 Motion Pictures forays into digital content

    MUMBAI: Viacom18 Motion Pictures, India’s fully integrated motion pictures studio, has delivered a plethora of critically and commercially successful movies. It has always disrupted certain reliable formulas to ensure that the content remains true to its audience. Now, it is venturing into the digital space with Tipping Point, which will feature a host of web series, short films and non-traditional formats to entertain its online audience. The brand will extend the banner’s ethos by creating contemporary, engaging and path breaking content for online audiences. 

    Viacom18 Motion Pictures COO Ajit Andhare said, “Having conquered the big screen through unconventional narratives, it is time for Viacom18 Motion Pictures to make its mark in the rapidly emerging digital content space. Tipping Point – our digital content brand will appeal to consumers looking for edgy, contemporary, provocative yet relatable content typically missing in the traditional or mainstream media. Through Tipping Point, Viacom18 Motion Pictures will evolve from being a film studio into a holistic content studio, reaching beyond theatrical offerings into millions of screens on mobile & personal devices with its unique storytelling.”

    As a part of the Tipping Point’s offering, the brand has announced collaborations with some of the best from the entertainment industry.

    Speaking on this collaboration, producer Imtiaz Ali said, “Excited about my foray into digital series – very happy that Window Seat Films and I are working with the team at Viacom18 Motion Pictures. I have lived with this story for a long time and eager to bring it to life now.”

    The list of soon-to-be-launched web series include ‘X Ray–Selected Satyajit Shorts’, a 12-part series presentation directed by the National award-winning filmmaker, Srijit Mukherji, an untitled crime thriller created by Imtiaz Ali, ‘Jamtara’ a story about a small district in Jharkhand, known to be India’s phishing capital, directed by Soumendra Padhi and ‘Best Days’, a psychological thriller by Abhishek Sengupta of the web-series Lakhon Mein Ek fame.

    Also Read:

    Viacom18 Motion Pictures ‘unconventional Indian cinema’ journey

    Eros International Media and Viacom18 Motion Pictures Announce International Distribution Agreement

    Zee Music Company joins hands with Viacom18 Motion Pictures

  • Viacom18 Motion Pictures ‘unconventional Indian cinema’ journey

    Viacom18 Motion Pictures ‘unconventional Indian cinema’ journey

    MUMBAI: Just five years old in the Indian film industry and Viacom 18 Motion Pictures has successfully changed the dimensions of tried and tested formulas. It has challenged the conventional norms of film making and produced a variety of movies for Indian audiences. Viacom18 Motion Pictures was started in 2010 with an aim to disrupt the tried and tested formulas, to challenge the norms and to ensure that content stood out to be the true winner. With movies like Tanu Weds Manu, Kahaani, Gangs of Wasseypur, OMG:Oh My God, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Queen, Mary Kom, Gabbar is Back and Margarita with a Straw, Viacom MP has proved that it has the ability to choose the right kind of script based on insights combined with instincts.

    This multi-faceted studio backs rare concept based cinema that appeals to the masses, distributes and markets larger-than-life English films that become mega blockbusters in India and has even ventured into regional markets like Marathi, Bengali and South Indian languages. Viacom 18 Motion Pictures has over 100 awards in its kitty.

    On completing five successful years of storytelling across 80 films, Viacom18 Media group CEO Sudhanshu Vats said, “Viacom18 Motion Pictures is an integral part of the value proposition of Viacom18 as a media network. Over the last 5 years we have built a distinctive identity for our movie studio that is built around our strong focus on stories. This ‘content-first’ approach is in synergy with our broadcast and digital business lines and together films, broadcast and digital complete the ecosystem of entertainment that Viacom18 offers its consumers.”

    Elaborating further Vats revealed, “Today we have a library of films and lines of businesses that I feel proud of. With each new project we are increasingly integrating a scientific approach based on data mining and analysis, enabling us to incrementally maximize business value for the studio as a whole. We have some interesting projects lined up for the years ahead and I look forward to an exciting future.”

    Viacom18 Motion Pictures COO Ajit Andhare said,“Viacom18 Motion Pictures has stood for a distinctive kind of cinema and consistent delivery best reflected not in one film or another but in the collective body of work built over these 5years. A conscious and calibrated business approach of focusing on innovation in films and rooting them in strong viable economics has been our hallmark.”

    “At the core of Viacom 18, the approach to film making is —  what can we do differently?  What can we do that is not conventional? That approach has been at the heart of a whole lot of things we do. The kind of film universe we have created, the kind of grammar we have created for film making and the kind of films we have stood for have started to occupy the centre stage in the Indian movie industry,” added Andhare.

    Further, sharing insights on how Viacom monetizes and markets films, Andhare said, “As a studio we are not just a film making outfit, we are part of a larger media network. Besides box office, the second largest revenue comes from satellite and now the new emerging market is digital. There will be a natural synergy in the group that will make a lot sense. In the broadcasting revenue model where a lot of output will be captive consumed by both of our platforms, some of those things clearly help in monetization.”  

    On marketing of the unconventional films, Andhare explained, “Traditional films are led by stars and it is the stars that are marketed, but if you take an unconventional film like Maajhi, it was marketed as an inspirational story. It is difficult to give a specific answer as to how we market films as it all depends on the kind of film we are working on and the content. For each film we have a different marketing strategy.”

    “Viacom18 Motion Pictures has consistently stood out for its distinctive kind of cinema delivery, best reflected not in one film or another but in the collective body of work built over these 5 years. A conscious and calibrated business approach of focusing on innovation in films and rooting them in strong viable economics has been our hallmark,” Andhare added.

    Before giving a green light to a story there are a few points that the studio keeps in mind in the initial stages he revealed.

    “We look at two to three aspects. Firstly, it’s the script. We also have an advisory council which does not work for Viacom, but are independent directors, films enthusiasts, film journalists who share their views on the script and we get the sense from that. Besides that, we also have someone who technically looks after the script. The script is just one layer, apart from that there are performances and there are many parameters that are involved in the judgment,”   said Andhare.

    Viacom18 Motion Pictures will relive its blockbusters through a weeklong festival between 11 June and 17 June 2016 that will showcase some of the most successful and loved films from its library. Launched in collaboration with Cinepolis, this festival will be a multi-city treat for movie lovers across Mumbai, Delhi, Pune and Bangalore showcasing hits like Kahaani, Manjhi – The Mountain Man, Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Queen and Gangs of Wasseypur I & II.

    “We will continue to be unconventional in our films and conventional in our business approach that focuses on return on capital. As we complete five years we feel inspired from what we have achieved and are spurred on to play a central role in shaping Indian cinema in our journey ahead,” asserted Andhare in conclusion. 
     

  • Viacom18 Motion Pictures ‘unconventional Indian cinema’ journey

    Viacom18 Motion Pictures ‘unconventional Indian cinema’ journey

    MUMBAI: Just five years old in the Indian film industry and Viacom 18 Motion Pictures has successfully changed the dimensions of tried and tested formulas. It has challenged the conventional norms of film making and produced a variety of movies for Indian audiences. Viacom18 Motion Pictures was started in 2010 with an aim to disrupt the tried and tested formulas, to challenge the norms and to ensure that content stood out to be the true winner. With movies like Tanu Weds Manu, Kahaani, Gangs of Wasseypur, OMG:Oh My God, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Queen, Mary Kom, Gabbar is Back and Margarita with a Straw, Viacom MP has proved that it has the ability to choose the right kind of script based on insights combined with instincts.

    This multi-faceted studio backs rare concept based cinema that appeals to the masses, distributes and markets larger-than-life English films that become mega blockbusters in India and has even ventured into regional markets like Marathi, Bengali and South Indian languages. Viacom 18 Motion Pictures has over 100 awards in its kitty.

    On completing five successful years of storytelling across 80 films, Viacom18 Media group CEO Sudhanshu Vats said, “Viacom18 Motion Pictures is an integral part of the value proposition of Viacom18 as a media network. Over the last 5 years we have built a distinctive identity for our movie studio that is built around our strong focus on stories. This ‘content-first’ approach is in synergy with our broadcast and digital business lines and together films, broadcast and digital complete the ecosystem of entertainment that Viacom18 offers its consumers.”

    Elaborating further Vats revealed, “Today we have a library of films and lines of businesses that I feel proud of. With each new project we are increasingly integrating a scientific approach based on data mining and analysis, enabling us to incrementally maximize business value for the studio as a whole. We have some interesting projects lined up for the years ahead and I look forward to an exciting future.”

    Viacom18 Motion Pictures COO Ajit Andhare said,“Viacom18 Motion Pictures has stood for a distinctive kind of cinema and consistent delivery best reflected not in one film or another but in the collective body of work built over these 5years. A conscious and calibrated business approach of focusing on innovation in films and rooting them in strong viable economics has been our hallmark.”

    “At the core of Viacom 18, the approach to film making is —  what can we do differently?  What can we do that is not conventional? That approach has been at the heart of a whole lot of things we do. The kind of film universe we have created, the kind of grammar we have created for film making and the kind of films we have stood for have started to occupy the centre stage in the Indian movie industry,” added Andhare.

    Further, sharing insights on how Viacom monetizes and markets films, Andhare said, “As a studio we are not just a film making outfit, we are part of a larger media network. Besides box office, the second largest revenue comes from satellite and now the new emerging market is digital. There will be a natural synergy in the group that will make a lot sense. In the broadcasting revenue model where a lot of output will be captive consumed by both of our platforms, some of those things clearly help in monetization.”  

    On marketing of the unconventional films, Andhare explained, “Traditional films are led by stars and it is the stars that are marketed, but if you take an unconventional film like Maajhi, it was marketed as an inspirational story. It is difficult to give a specific answer as to how we market films as it all depends on the kind of film we are working on and the content. For each film we have a different marketing strategy.”

    “Viacom18 Motion Pictures has consistently stood out for its distinctive kind of cinema delivery, best reflected not in one film or another but in the collective body of work built over these 5 years. A conscious and calibrated business approach of focusing on innovation in films and rooting them in strong viable economics has been our hallmark,” Andhare added.

    Before giving a green light to a story there are a few points that the studio keeps in mind in the initial stages he revealed.

    “We look at two to three aspects. Firstly, it’s the script. We also have an advisory council which does not work for Viacom, but are independent directors, films enthusiasts, film journalists who share their views on the script and we get the sense from that. Besides that, we also have someone who technically looks after the script. The script is just one layer, apart from that there are performances and there are many parameters that are involved in the judgment,”   said Andhare.

    Viacom18 Motion Pictures will relive its blockbusters through a weeklong festival between 11 June and 17 June 2016 that will showcase some of the most successful and loved films from its library. Launched in collaboration with Cinepolis, this festival will be a multi-city treat for movie lovers across Mumbai, Delhi, Pune and Bangalore showcasing hits like Kahaani, Manjhi – The Mountain Man, Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Queen and Gangs of Wasseypur I & II.

    “We will continue to be unconventional in our films and conventional in our business approach that focuses on return on capital. As we complete five years we feel inspired from what we have achieved and are spurred on to play a central role in shaping Indian cinema in our journey ahead,” asserted Andhare in conclusion. 
     

  • Viacom18 Motion Pictures to release ‘Gods of Egypt’ on 26 February

    Viacom18 Motion Pictures to release ‘Gods of Egypt’ on 26 February

    MUMBAI: Viacom18 Motion Pictures will be releasing the fantasy movie Gods of Egypt from Lionsgate’s Summit Entertainment label in India on 26 February, 2016.

    The film will be released in four languages namely English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

    The deal was negotiated by Wendy Reeds and Christian Perala from Lionsgate International’s UK office.

    The studio will market and distribute the movie, which recreates the ancient Egyptian kingdom depicting armour clad, sword swinging Gerard Butler as the Egyptian God of Darkness Set and Brendon Thwaites as mortal hero Bek. This mega action adventure follows Bek’s quest to retrieve magic objects with thrilling chase sequences followed by breathtaking high octane action scenes for the survival of mankind that is hanging in the balance.  

    Viacom18 Motion Pictures COO Ajit Andhare said, “We are delighted to collaborate with Lionsgate on Gods of Egypt. We have been keen to expand our English film slate with the growing Hollywood contribution to the Indian box office. Film viewers who appreciate scale and larger than life canvases of Hollywood films are going to love this film.”

    “Viacom18 is a terrific partner with a wonderful track record of marketing and distributing popular action films and we are very pleased to be working with them on the local release of Gods of Egypt. This is the type of big-action film that audiences will want to see in the theatre,” added Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group EVP for international sales Wendy Reeds.

  • Viacom18 Motion Pictures to release ‘Gods of Egypt’ on 26 February

    Viacom18 Motion Pictures to release ‘Gods of Egypt’ on 26 February

    MUMBAI: Viacom18 Motion Pictures will be releasing the fantasy movie Gods of Egypt from Lionsgate’s Summit Entertainment label in India on 26 February, 2016.

    The film will be released in four languages namely English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

    The deal was negotiated by Wendy Reeds and Christian Perala from Lionsgate International’s UK office.

    The studio will market and distribute the movie, which recreates the ancient Egyptian kingdom depicting armour clad, sword swinging Gerard Butler as the Egyptian God of Darkness Set and Brendon Thwaites as mortal hero Bek. This mega action adventure follows Bek’s quest to retrieve magic objects with thrilling chase sequences followed by breathtaking high octane action scenes for the survival of mankind that is hanging in the balance.  

    Viacom18 Motion Pictures COO Ajit Andhare said, “We are delighted to collaborate with Lionsgate on Gods of Egypt. We have been keen to expand our English film slate with the growing Hollywood contribution to the Indian box office. Film viewers who appreciate scale and larger than life canvases of Hollywood films are going to love this film.”

    “Viacom18 is a terrific partner with a wonderful track record of marketing and distributing popular action films and we are very pleased to be working with them on the local release of Gods of Egypt. This is the type of big-action film that audiences will want to see in the theatre,” added Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group EVP for international sales Wendy Reeds.

  • Viacom18 Motion Pictures to release ‘Santa Banta Pvt Ltd’ on 11 March

    Viacom18 Motion Pictures to release ‘Santa Banta Pvt Ltd’ on 11 March

    MUMBAI: Viacom18 Motion Pictures will be releasing the comic caper Santa Banta Pvt Ltd on 11 March, 2016.

     

    The movie is produced by Viacom18 Media and Cinetek Telefilms.

     

    Santa Banta Pvt Ltd is an out-an-out laugh riot that chronicles the misadventures of Santa and Banta in the island of Fiji.

     

    Directed by Akashdeep Sabir, the film stars Boman Irani, Vir Das, Lisa Haydon and Neha Dhupia.

  • Viacom18 packs a punch with ‘Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2’ marketing

    Viacom18 packs a punch with ‘Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2’ marketing

    MUMBAI: Pyar Ka Punchnama is all set to return with new twist. Viacom18 Motion Pictures has lined up a unique marketing campaign to promote the movie. Kick-starting the teaser with #DilKaJail standees across multiplexes pan India, the studio set the tone for a quirky yet relatable marketing campaign.

     

    Presented by Viacom18 Motion Pictures, Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2 is produced by Abhishek Pathak and directed by Luv Ranjan. The movie will release on 16 October.

     

    Viacom18 Motion Pictures marketing VP Rudrarup Datta said, “Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2 is a cult film that defies the norms of quintessential Bollywood love stories. The film needed a quirky, standout campaign that would connect to the youth and their ideologies of love and relationships and we are delighted with the response we have received thus far.”

     

    An interesting campaign was done by the filmmakers where cinema patrons went behind the bars, jailed by the heart and clicked funky selfies and group pictures. This was facilitated across metros and mini metros. Driving the quirk in the campaign, human banners with the tagline ‘Love is Injurious to Health’ were created and volunteers went and photo-bombed couples at various lover’s points across 10 cities.

     

    Moreover, as the Pyaar Ka Punchnama monologue has gone viral across platforms, in an attempt to extend the idea of the monologue to the common man, an on ground contest activation was conceptualised wherein the most Pyaar mein Pareshaan boy gets a chance to win a trip to Bangkok after a successful recitation of a heated monologue.

     

    Using radio and the digital platform as mediums, this campaign engaged people across the nation. Taking the campaign a notch higher in the release week, a Mohabbat Mukti Morcha was organised where a horde of people assembled in Juhu. From witty one liner hand posters that said Jaanu mujhe jaane do to the burning of a 3ft teddy bear – all the cliché romantic symbols that lead to false expectations in a relationship were protested against. Leading this movement were the lead actors of the film including Kartik Aaryan, Omkar Kapoor and Sunny Singh.