From theindianentertainment.com ● Volume No: I-11 pickle● Dec 09-15, 2006 ● New Delhi ● India Documentary films have highest profit margin in business BET ON DOCUS HBO Films has picked Indian documentary films John & Jane, The Journalist & The Jehadi for US distribution

DOCU TRENDS ● New York is the docu- mentary film capital of the world. ● The small distributors are always on the look- out for the next Fahrenheit 9/11 ● Financing a documen- tary is cheaper than financing a fictional film, Docus are normally low budget films

Daniel Pearl documentary became a possibility after HBO came on board ● Chances of docus doing well in the festival t has been a good time HBO has ever Suri is another success year for Indian docu- acquired an Indian film. story. Screened at circuit are very high mentary films. HBO Films is a division Sundance 2006, this ● Ramesh Sharma's of the cable television docu is a chronicle of Money for docus can 'The Journalist and the network HBO that pro- immigration in sixties also pour in from politi- JehadiI ', -- a documentary duces and distributes Britain and beyond, seen cal funds and big foun- on the slaying of Wall feature films, documen- through the eyes of one Street Journal journalist taries and mini series. Asian family and their dations. Daniel Pearl has been Although the company movie camera. The inter- supported by HBO. John originated as a cable national sales is handled & Jane, directed by Ashim network, it now distrib- by Celluloid Dreams, I for Ahluwalia is an unusual utes films theatrically as India is a UK-Italy- John & Jane is feature-length documen- well. HBO Executive German documentary tary film about young Producer Sara Bernstein produced by Carlo the first Indians that answer is “thrilled” that they Cresto-Dina. City of Photos American 1-800 num- managed to acquire is another bit hit. Indian docu- bers in a Mumbai call John & Jane for the US centre has been picked market after out-bidding up for large-scale US dis- rival theatrical distribu- mentary film tribution by HBO Films. tors in Toronto. Cinetic The film has received the Media’s John Sloss acquired by Director’s Guild of (Farenheit 9/11 and Super America Jury award and Size Me) brokered the HBO Films for the European Media deal.I For India, directed Prize., This is the first and written by Sandhya the US mart

1 pickle ● December 08-15, 2006 ● New Delhi● India BIG MOVES At Kuwait, people watch more Telugu movies Here are the major trends that shaped the Indian filmed entertainment to go global in 2006. A quick look by Pickle Looking Beyond Boundaries

e made the first baby step to look beyond the Wtraditional market for Indian movie distribution. In Germany, there is a niche audi- ence (not the diaspora) to watch Hindi movies. Don was released in 28 countries simultaneously. Middle East has emerged as a big market for India. There are more Preity Zinta at the India Pavilion at audience for Telugu movies in Oliver Stone and UTV’s Ronnie the Cannes Film Market. Veer Zara Kuwait than for Hollywood. Screwvala at the Dubai made her popular in France Adlabs (Anil Ambani company) International Film Festival released Krrish in places like Taiwan and Korea. Kabhi Alvida India@Cannes Nah Kehna grossed more in the Mindset shift overseas market than in India. Film Market 2006 Our film exports will cross the Rs from Vivah 1,500 crores figure in 2007. ndia participation at the Cannes ndia premiered its first film online Film Market this May was the in 2006. Thanks to Rajshri Media, Iturning point for the Indian film ISooraj Barjatya’s Vivah was avail- industry. There was no Indian film able for download for $10 on the at the competition section in the same day of its worldwide theatrical festival. In 2006, there were 131 release. Phir Hera Pheri, Hera Pheri, registered participants from India Amar Akbar Anthony, Ek Duuje Ke Liye in the Cannes Film Market (up and Hum Aapke Hain Koun, are some from 88 in 2005). Over 80 small of the films that are now available companies went to Cannes and for downloading. Rajshri plans to majority of them returned with a expand its broadband video pro- project in hand. This is the first gramming, distribute new and old time the independent film makers Indian entertainment in the new made a big impact at Cannes . media. Eros is already offering India is the focus country in the Bollywood VoD content -- Cinema of the World section in Viva by Sooraj Barjatya is India’s ‘Bollywood Hits On Demand’ -- on Cannes Film Festival 2007. first film to be released on the Net Comcast network in the US.

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2 pickle ● December 08-15 2006 ● New Delhi● India

These documentaries have a global viewership PROCESS IS THE KEY John & Jane, Journalist & The Jehadi, I for India, City of Photos have been screened in many film festivals I for India is a big hit n 1965 Yash Pal Suri left India for the U.K. The first thing he does on his arrival in England is to buy 2 Super 8 cameras, 2 Iprojectors and 2 reel to reel recorders. One set of equipment he sends to his family in India, the other he keeps for himself. For forty years he uses it to share his new life abroad with those back home - images of snow, miniskirted ladies dancing bare-legged, the first trip to an English supermarket - his taped thoughts and observations providing a unique chronicle of the eccentricities of his new English hosts. Back in India, his relatives in turn, respond with their own 'cine-letters' telling tales of weddings, festivals and village life. As time passes and the planned return to India I for India by Sandhya Suri and sales is handled by Celluloid Dreams, Paris becomes an increasingly remote possibility. John & Jane is a lesson in Nishita’s the globalisation City of Photos in fresh new blend of observational documen- tary and tropical science-fiction, JOHN & B&W AJANE follows the stories of six “call agents” that answer American 1-800 numbers in a ity of Photos by Mumbai call center. After a heady mix of Nishita Jain City of Photos have been American “culture training” and 14 hour night Cexplores the little screened in many festivals shifts, the job soon starts to take its toll. Counter known ethos of neigh- pointing the fluorescent interiors of late night bourhood photo studios in Indian cities, discovering offices and hyper-malls with the uneasy currents entire imaginary worlds in the smallest of spaces. Tiny, swirling around the shabby studios that appear stuck in a time- characters, JOHN & warp turn out to be places throbbing with ener- JANE discovers a young gy. These afford fascinating glimpses into indi- generation of urban vidual fantasies and popular tastes. Yet Indians that are begin- beneath the fun and games runs an undercur- ning to live between rent of foreboding. Not everyone enjoys being the real and the virtu- photographed; not every backdrop is beautiful; al.However, this futuris- not all photos are taken on happy occasions. tic world of American Nishtha began her career as an editor and cor- aliases and simulated respondent for a television news channel. She reality is not science fic- then joined the Film and Television Institute of tion, these are the J&J has got more reviews in over- India where she specialized in film direction. times in which we live. seas journals than a Star Hindi film The documentary is in English and Bengali.

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3 pickle ● December 08-15 2006 ● New Delhi● India MARKET INDICATORS PICKLE DIGEST Overview Six big hits of 2006 he big Hindi film hits of 2006 has come from half The big story this week is the restructuring of Zee Ta dozen production houses. The big hits of this Telefilms into three entities. As a result of this restruc- year has come from Yashraj Films, Sajjid Nadiawala, turing Zee group expects to grow over five times to Rs UTV, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Dharma Productions, 11,000 crore in four years ending March 2011. Rakesh Roshan and Farhan Akhtar. Krrish and KANK The company expect revenues of Rs 2,000 crore by were released through Yashraj. The big grosses of March 31, 2007, with EBIDTA margin of Rs 500 crore. this year include Lage Raho, Krrish, Rang De Basanti, With a 35 % year-on-year growth, Zee expects the Dhoom 2, Don, KANK and Phir Hera Pheri. overall top-line to touch Rs 10,000-11,000 crore by March 31, 2011. Media & Entertainment Companies traded in the Vanaja in Berlin Festival Bonbay Stock Exchange (value in Rs) ndia-US co-production Vanaja directed by Rajnesh IDomalpalli has been selected for screening as part Company Sept 27 Dec19 P/E Ratio of the Generation 14 plus section at the Berlin Film Adlabs Films 345.35 379.80 60.29 Festival beginning Feb 8, 2007. The pictures in this Balaji Telefilm 132.15 146.35 15.88 section is themed on how young people tackle the Cinevista Ltd 23.00 19.60 -14.00 challenges of their daily lives through art.This section Crest Animation 115.70 132.40 42.71 include Antonia (Brazil), Like a Virgin (South Korea), Man in the Chair (US) among others films. Cyber Media 80.00 114.25 22.53 Deccan Chronicle 481.30 712.00 43.15 ETC Networks 43.15 50.90 10.13 NFDC Script Workshop ENT Network India 244.70 264.35 66.25 ational Film Development Corporation (NFDC) will Galaxy Entertainment 209.00 209.00 -- Nconduct a workshop in Mumbai on developing HT Media 581.90 765.00 64.39 commercial ideas for movies for the international Inox Leisure 53.65 149.10 50.89 market with London's leading Literary, Film and JagranPrakashan 292.05 301.95 43.70 Television Agent, Julian Friedmann, from January 13th-17th, 2007. Friedmann is Joint MD of Blake K Sera Sera 29.50 29.00 — Friedmann Literary Agency in London, which repre- Mukta Arts 55.95 52.60 -21.92 sents 200 writers worldwide. NDTV 214.25 204.30 -190.13 Contact: Telephone 91 22 2494 9971. Prime Focus — 299.00 23.75 PVR 255.10 228.00 100.00 Pritish Nandy 47.50 39.15 10.20 Oscar f/x contenders Sahara One 317.00 386.00 89.77 otion Picture Academy has announced seven Saregama India 185.85 191.00 31.57 Mfilms that will compete for nomination in the Shringar Cinema 46.40 48.45 -53.24 visual effects Oscar category. Seven major titles that Sun TV 1244.10 1291.25 63.67 are set to compete for the Oscar f/x include MGM's TV 18 602.00 895.10 95.43 Casino Royale; Fox's Eragon, Night at the Museum and TV Today Network 75.85 68.80 13.93 X-Men: The Last Stand; Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: TIPS Industries 28.20 25.65 43.47 Dead Man's Chest; and Warner Bros.' Poseidon and "Superman Returns". Three of the seven picked films UTV Software 179.25 254.00 — will be nominated for the Academy Award. Zee Tele 302.25 272.95 65.30

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BY THE NUMBERS India's film industry is valued at about $1.75 billion in 2006. It will double to $3.4 billion by 2010. The home video market will increase to $467 million by 2010 according to estimates by PwC

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