PRESS RELEASE
– Releases 5 blockbusters back to back in the span of 4 months
– Releases include top-drawer talent such as Aamir Khan, Hrithik Roshan, John Abraham, Mahesh Babu & Aishwarya Rai!
November 28, 2007: UTV Motion Pictures Plc’s (“UTVM” or the “Company”) boasts of the biggest release slate ever planned by an Indian studio, in the period between October 2007 till January 2008 5 blockbusters in 4 months. Making these four months at UTVMP the biggest ever for any studio in Indian cinema history.
In October 2007, UTVMP released the Telegu blockbuster ATIDHI, starring the modern day rage Mahesh Babu opposite Amrita Rao, in a film that garnered a bigger opening than POKHIRI, Mahesh Babu’s last release – the biggest hit in Telegu cinema. The film is still going strong in theatres across Andhra Pradesh.
On November 23, 2007, UTVMP released DHAN DHANA DHAN GOAL, starring John Abraham, Bipasha Basu, Arshad Warsi and Boman Irani. Filmed almost entirely in the UK, GOAL is based on the theme of a struggling South Asian football club’s dramatic rise to glory in the UK club leagues.
December 2007 sees the release of two very different movies – each a unique experience in its own right. Releasing on December 21, 2007 is
TAARE ZAMEEN PAR, produced and directed by one of India’s most respected and admired superstars, Aamir Khan. UTVMP will market and distribute the film worldwide except for India. TZP is Aamir Khan’s directorial debut and one of the most awaited films of the year.
Also releasing on December 21, 2007 is WELCOME, directed by Anees Bazmee, the director of the smash hit NO ENTRY. WELCOME, produced by Firoz Nadiadwala, features one of the biggest star casts ever assembled for a Hindi film – Akshay Kumar, Nana Patekar, Anil Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Mallika Sherawat, Paresh Rawal and Feroz Khan. This rip roaring comedy will be released worldwide by The Indian Film Company, to which UTVMP has sold the rights to.
January 2008 sees the release of one of the most anticipated films of the decade – JODHAA AKBAR. Directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, the writer-director of the Academy Award nominated LAGAAN, and starring the reigning superstars of the Indian film industry, Hrithik Roshan and Asihwarya Rai, JODHAA AKBAR is the untold love story of the greatest Mughal emperor that ruled India, Jalaluddin Mohammad Akbar, and a fiery young Rajput pricess, Jodhaa.
About UTV Motion Pictures
Established in 1995, as a division within UTV, UTV Motion Pictures has arrangements with Hollywood majors –Walt Disney, Fox Searchlight, Will Smith’s company Overbrook Entertainment. Listed at the AIM London Stock Exchange UTV Motion Pictures has played an active role in bringing the studio model to the Indian film industry where it is able to leverage script development, budget and time management and international distribution. Having become a strong player in Indian & International cinema with the success of movies like Rang De Basanti, Khosla Ka Ghosla, Metro, The Namesake & I Think I Love My Wife. It’s forthcoming slate includes Ashutosh Gowariker’s ‘Jodhaa-Akbar’ starring Hritik Rosan & Aishwarya Rai, Aamir Khan’s directorial debut ‘Tara Zameen par’, Night Shyamalan’s The Happening’, Anees Bazmee’s ‘Welcome’ amongst others. UTV Motion Pictures is working with a talent pool of directors that include Rakesyh Omprakash Mehra, Vishal Bhardwaj, David Dhawan, Madhur Bhandkar. For more info log onto www.utvmotionpictures.com
