MUMBAI: UTV is gearing up to launch its second post production set up in Mumbai. To be called UTVPost, the set up will be operational from October this year and will have feature films as its core focus area.

It will be the feature film extension of UTV’s signature post-production studio USL. UTVPost will be headed by UTV founder member and director Deven Khote, who will spearhead the 60-member team of UTVPost as well as USL.

At UTV’s new 6000 sq feet Andheri studio, the company has configured a comprehensive projection-based 2Kplus DI (Digital Intermediate), VFX (Visual Effects), and CGI pipeline. UTVPost has equipped itself with state-of-the-art technology from Arri, AutoDesk, Avid, FilmLight, HP, JVC and Sony amongst others. The facility is geared and professionally staffed to handle the entire post-production chain – from Telecine (with KeyCode) through to digital film recording for feature films.

UTVPost is digitally linked to UTV Toons and comprises a team of more than 500 artists, animators and compositors, with expertise in all forms of animation and computer graphics.

In the past, USL has handled films like Lakshya, D, Viruddh, Swades, Chup Chup Ke and the recently released Khosla Ka Ghosla.

Ronnie Screwvala’s UTV has recently been in the news for all the right reasons. A couple of months back, UTV’s kids’ channel – Hungama TV – was acquired by the Walt Disney Company for $30.5 million. What’s more, Disney also bought an equity stake of 14.9 per cent in UTV Software Communications for $14 million.

In August this year, UTV also inked co-production deals with Fox Searchlight and Will Smith’s production company Overbrook Entertainment and Sony Pictures Entertainment to create and distribute films worldwide. The total value of these deals is pegged at $37 million.

And if that was not enough, a couple of days back, UTV produced film Rang De Basanti starring Aamir Khan was nominated as India’s official entry to the Oscars this year. What’s more, UTV’s latest small budget film Khosla Ka Ghosla has also received a good response from viewers.

UTV’s scrip at the bourses today touched an intraday high of Rs 191 and an intraday low of Rs 180. It closed at Rs 179.25 at the end of the day’s trading at the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). According to a report in Moneycontrol.com, there was a block deal of 610,000 UTV shares on National Stock Exchange (NSE) at Rs 178 per share.

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