www.picklemag.com From theindianentertainment.com ● Volume No: I-28 pickle● April 7-13, 2007 ● New Delhi ● India Photos: Yashraj Films Photos: Yashraj Yash Raj's Ta Ra Rum Pum will hit screens on April 27 hile there is no clarity on budget of $20 million. But the biggest numbers, the first quarter release in terms of box office collections of national perception is Yash Raj's Ta First Indian films doesn't bring Ra Rum Pum starring Saif Ali, Rani the same excitement as Mukherjee. The music of Ta Ra Rum WIndia got out in the year 2006. Only Pum is already being hummed by Maniratnam's Guru was a moderate everyone. The film is the story of one hit. The dozen odd Hindi films failed man (Saif as Car racer Rajveer) , his Big to grab eyeballs. The Namesake had family (Rani as Radhika and two kids) a good run outside India. and how they overcome the obsta- Regional films were impressive. cles that life puts in their way, to- The biggest hit of the first quarter in gether. It is the story of human spirit India was Tamil film Pokiri starring and how it ultimately prevails accord- 2007 Vijay (a Telugu remake). Pokiri is said ing to the film tagline. to have grossed the highest collection The other movies expected in this in India in the Jan-March quarter. quarter are UTV's Metro, Shaad Ali's Sources claimed that Pokiri which Jhoom Barabar Jhoom and David was made at $2 million Dhawan's Partner. However the Release grossed over $8 million biggest summer releases are films in collections. This is despite the fact from Hollywood. Some of the day- that the movie got released just in date Hollywood releases in India in- Hollywood has more Tamil Nadu and some neighbouring clude Spiderman 3, Pirates of states. Caribbean 3, Shrek 3, Hannibal to offer in April-June How does the next quarter look Rising, Fantastic Four 2, Ocean's like? Again it seems Rajinikant star- Thirteen, Bean2, Perfect Stranger quarter than local ring AVM Productions Tamil movie among others. Feel free to write what films in the country Sivaji The Boss would rule the box of- you think is on store at fice collections. The film is made at a ■ [email protected] 1 pickle April 7-13, 2007 ● New Delhi● India India is the New Kid on the Block & the film sector is impressive SleepingGaint That’s how Robert Friedman, member of Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, USA describes the Indian film industry obert Friedman, former President of Columbia Pictures Distribution is bullish on the R Indian filmed entertainment sector. He says India is a sleeping giant and is now being awakened. To emerge stronger, India needs to fill the distribution link in the US theatres says Friedman. He was here to cheer lead the India Splendour celebration (lead by BK Modi's MCORP GLOBAL at LA from August 10-15. He spoke to n vidyasagar. What's the biggest missing link for India at Hollywood? The missing link is India doesn't have distributors at Hollywood. Not (L)Robert Friedman and Vidhu Vinod Chopra at the India Splendour launch having a distributor is equivalent to opening up a restaurant and not hav- be affirmative. They before December 31. ing food. Why will anybody come to should be positive With that, you can a restaurant when you don't have about India. I get a qualify for both US and food? . Many major US-city theatres sense that India is a I never liked foreign film. I men- would welcome Indian films. It is be- sleeping giant. The tioned it to Chopra that cause Indian films represent a culture sleeping giant is now the term your country has to se- different from what many in the US being awakened. The Bollywood. lect it. He said ``they are accustomed to. What I find frus- reason is that India as are bunch of idiots''. trating is that Indian films don't get an economy is explod- Be your own The country selects the the exposure and the distribution ing. As a result the time thing. Do not film. We don't care if that they are entitled to. I see pictures is ripe for Indian films the country's film selec- that are nameless from countries that to be shown in vehi- copy Hollywood tion is represented by a get distribution in key areas like New cles that will give peo- king, dictator or a com- York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, ple opportunity to mittee. You decide. We LA. Indian films don't seem to get out make judgments about will make the judg- of the gate. India doesn't seem to the Indian films. When I was in LA ment on the film. have a representation in the US to three weeks back I watched Eklavya What is the one thing that you don't create that marriage to get their pic- by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. I really liked like… tures to the theatres. You should it the movie. If somebody doesn't like work out a per centage point or com- it, it is their privilege. I never met I never liked the term Bollywood. pensation with distributors to get into Chopra before. He said is there any Be your own thing. Be proud of your the theatres. chance of this film getting nomi- industry. Bollywood to me sounds Do you see any chance of an Indian nated. I said it doesn't work that way. like a circus. It sounds cheap. It is not movie getting Oscar? You can get a picture in and say I Bollywood, but Indian films or Indian want it to be foreign and US. All you Cinema. Absolutely. People in India should have to do is play in LA for one week See full interview at ■ www.picklemag.com The six day celebration of India Splendour Raj Kapoor. India-born tennis star and India will take place in Los Angeles from Hollywood film producer Ashok Amritraj Auagust 10-15, 2007. The occasion is to is the cultural ambassador for Indian Splendour celebrate the 60th anniversary of India's Splendor. The event is spearheaded Independence and position Indian cinema by BK Modi, who has taken it as at LA and culture in the US.. This will have a a mission to put India films in the global special tribute to Indian cinema legend entertainment map. August 10-15, 2007 2 pickle April 7-13, 2007 ● New Delhi● India ADVT IDREAM INDEPENDENT PICTURES: India’s Premiere International Film Sales Agent Thursday 17 May : Time 11.30 AM Arcades 3 Saturday 19 May : Time 2.00 PM Palais I Friday 18 May Time 2.00 PM Palais G Tuesday 22 May Time 1.30 PM Palais H Monday 21 May Time 3.30 PM Arcades 3 Wednesday 16 May Time 3.30 PM Palais F Sunday 20 May Time 6 PM Palais E Wednesday 23 May Time 9.30 AM Palais F WORLD MARKET PREMIERES OUR UK ADDRESS : 309 Gainsborough House, 81 Oxford Street, London W1D2EU, UK, Tel: +442079035116 Fax: +44207 9035333 INDIAN ADDRESS701 Tulsiani Chambers,Nariman Point,Mumbai 400023,India, Tel: +91 22 66383357 Fax:+9122 22040282 www.idreamindependent.com Cannes Booth 22.02 in the Palais Contact: ROHIT SHARMA: President-International Sales,email: [email protected], mob: +919820189556 3 pickle April 7-13, 2007 ● New Delhi● India GHATTU is all set to March to the French Riveria For trade enquries contact: KALAPI NAGADA International Sales & Marketing. Shemaroo Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. Plot No.18, Marol Co-Operative Industrial Estate, Off. Andheri Kurla Road, Andheri (East), Mumbai 400057. Tel : 0091-222-8529911 ( Ext. No: 2052) Fax: 0091-222-8519770. Mobile : +91-9867623504. Email: [email protected] 4 pickle April 7-13, 2007 ● New Delhi● India Indian companies have done their Cannes home work Do Not Miss Them at Cannes The top Indian filmed entertainment companies have a variety of film content in store for overseas distribution. Here are key companies and anchors to watch for at the Cannes Film Market next month iDream Independent Pictures UTV Motion Pictures Studio 18 Rohit Sharma & Ashish Bhatnagar Siddharth Roy Kapur & Ronnie Screwvala Asoka Holla & Sandeep Bhargava [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] They are India's UTV is the company It is a brand new only professional with a mindset very company to iDream sales agent for different from the march to Cannes independent existing breed. UTV Market from films. They would be coming to Cannes has more deals and India. The com- Film Market with a focused plan to sell six tie-ups with Hollywood studios than any pany is serious in its venture and it is an films. The films are varied in theme and other filmed entertainment company in offshoot of Raghav Behl's Television represent a mixed genre. They have picked India. UTV would focus on two big Eighteen. Asoka Holla was at Cannes last films after a lot of homework. Rohit is a launches at Cannes - Jodha Akbar (star- year spearheading UTV's film marketing. regular visitor to major film markets ring Aishwarya Rai, Hrithik Roshan) and Similarly Sandeep represented Sahara last across the world. Strong operation in the another movie Goal. UTV will also have the year at Cannes. They have around half-a- UK is a positive point to iDream movie Metro with them to market. dozen films to offer for the rest of the Siddharth is the anchor of UTV's film mar- world keting initiatives.