MUMBAI: It’s a big movie from the biggest banner in the country – Yashraj. And while the latest Aamir Khan blockbuster Fanaa is roiled in one controversy after another, on the small screen, it is all going smoothly. Or so the studio’s representatives aver.
Yash Raj Films VP Music and Home Entertainment Vijay Kumar rubbishes reports appeared in certain sections of the media that Yash Raj Films has demanded money from television channels to telecast Fanaa promos and songs. “For Fanaa, we have associated with all the channels including Star World, HBO and ETC Music. The rumours that Yash Raj has locked horns with the music channels over telecast rights of these music videos are absolutely baseless. We have never demanded money for telecasting Fanaa promos and songs, and in fact, it is Yash Raj who has to pay these channels money for airing these clips.”
When contacted by sister concern Indiantelevision.com, Zee Telefilms however remained noncommittal. “No comments on the official position,” reads an SMS sent by spokesperson Ashish Kaul. Channel [V] head honcho Amar K Deb said that the channel had some spots of Fanaa. A source close to B4U also confirmed that the channel was running Fanaa promos and song clips.
Kumar explains that the production house has in fact employed a certain promotional strategy which involves all the channels. “Yash Raj follows a certain promotional strategy when it comes to television. We shift our promos and music videos from one channel to another and from time to time and this shift is strategically designed to get the maximum coverage. We are telecasting our 60 seconds song and promo clips on all the channels.”
On Yash Raj’s exclusive tie up with MTV and Sony, Kumar adds, “It is true that we have exclusive tie-ups with Sony and MTV for programming and marketing activities. But that has nothing to do with providing the Fanaa content to other channels. Our association with these channels are on and there is no disagreement between Yash Raj and the channels over payment issue.”
Agrees MTV VP creative content Ashish Patil, “What MTV has with Yash Raj Films on Fanaa is an exclusive marketing tie-up. MTV holds the tradition of being a key player in the TV promotions of all the Yash Raj Films and this continues with Fanaa also. The Fanaa music was released on MTV and we had the exclusive rights to telecast these songs for about five to seven days post music release. Sony is our programming partner and the channel has lined up various wrap around programmes on the movie.”
Patil adds that, MTV had lined up a series of promotional activities for Fanaa on the channel. “Tomorrow we will be telecasting an Aamir-Kajol show Fanaa for You, which will have the lead stars of Fanaa interviewing each other. Other innovations we have lined up include creating special MTV logos based on the Fanaa format,” he says.
The Fanaa for You show is in fact shared between Sony Entertainment Television and MTV. “In a unique exercise of media roadblock, Aamir and Kajol’s candid conversation Fanaa for You will be shown on 25 May at 8 pm. The stars will have freewheeling chat about themselves and their experience of working together for the much talked about movie Fanna,” states a Sony release.
