Reliance Next target - Films.....!

MUMBAI:  Reliance Big Entertainment, the media and entertainment arm of the $75 billion Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani group, on Friday announced that it would spend $1 billion on the Indian film and entertainment business over the next 12-15 months.

 

This is by far the biggest commitment made by an Indian entertainment company for show business. Amid the glitter and glamour at the 61st edition of the Cannes Film Festival at the French Riviera, Reliance Big Entertainment also revealed that 69 films in nine languages would be ready for distribution over the next 18 months. Over a dozen films will be released this year.

 

"India is uniquely positioned in the global economic order. We believe this is the right time to make this commitment of $1 billion for the film entertainment business," said Amit Khanna, chairman of Reliance Entertainment.

 

The films include those in collaboration with India's leading production houses and Reliance's own in-house films. Amongst the prominent deals include -two film deal with Vidhu Vinod Chopra including a mainstream English language film "Broken Horses", a six film deal with Excel entertainment promoted by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani including Shah Rukh Khan starrer "Don II".

 

There is also a two film deal with director Shyam Benegal, four film deal with Madhur Bhandarkar, three film deal with Vivek Agnihotri and two film deal with Sudhir Mishra, Amit Khanna, chairman of Reliance BIG Entertainment said in a statement issued here today.

 

Khanna said Reliance ADA group has 106 operating cinema screens at present and it is expected to go up to 400 by the end of the calender year 2009. Earlier this year, the group made its foray into the US exhibition market and has expanded its film exhibition presence across India,Malaysia and Mauritius.

 

Out of the total films, those in post production stage are "Rock On", "Sarkar Raj", "Love Story 2050", "Pathshala", Tamil film "Yaavaram Nallam", "Hulla", "Summer 2007", Punjabi film "Mera Pind", "Shabri".

 

Films in production stage are "Luck By Chance","Daddy Cool", "Singh is King", "Sultan-the Warrior", "Dulha Mil Gaya", "Sikander" and animation film "Hey Krishna".

 

 

Coutesy : The Economic Times