July 2009 - Reliance Entertainment

BIG Pictures and Puja Films’ Do Knot Disturb to release on 25th September. First look theatrical trailer in cinemas with Love Aaj Kal

Posted on July 29, 2009September 6, 2018 by reliance

~ First Look Theatrical Trailer in Cinemas with Love Aaj Kal~

~Be ready to laugh your head off as the Makers of “No. 1” and “Kings of Comedy” come together this September for ‘Do Knot Disturb’

Mumbai, 29 July, 2009: BIG Pictures, the motion pictures brand from Reliance Big Entertainment and Vashu Bhagnani’s Puja Films will release ‘Do Knot Disturb’…Fun Lies Behind Closed Doors!,! a laugh riot from David Dhawan, one of India’s most successful film-makers on 25th September worldwide.

The first look theatrical trailer of ‘Do Knot Disturb’ starring the finest comic talent from Bollywood- Govinda, Riteish Deshmukh, Sushmita Sen, Lara Dutta, Sohail Khan, Ranvir Shorey and Rajpal Yadav will be unveiled in cinemas with Love Aaj Kal on July 31, 2009. ‘Do Knot Disturb’ also marks the coming together of the Super Hit Comedy Jodi No. 1 of David Dhawan and Govinda after a gap of two years. Their last film together was the blockbuster PARTNER.

‘Do Knot Disturb’ is a zany comedy of errors about a rich businessman who tries to hide his extramarital affair with a supermodel. To save his skin, he bribes a waiter into pretending to be the supermodel’s boyfriend. What follows is a series of mistaken identities and misunderstandings, culminating in one mammoth laugh riot.

The film has music by Nadeem Shravan, lyrics by Sameer and screenplay by Yunus Sejawal.

Kashmiri boy Mehrajuddin Rathar from BIG Pictures’ ‘Sikandar’ visits Mumbai

Posted on July 16, 2009September 6, 2018 by reliance

Film starring Madhavan, Sanjay Suri Parzaan Dastur, Ayesha Kapur will release on Aug 21st

Film starring Madhavan, Sanjay Suri Parzaan Dastur, Ayesha Kapur will release on Aug 21stMumbai July 28, 2009: Mehrajuddin Rath, a 14 year old boy from Kashmir studying in the Government Higher Secondary School Pehelgam, thought it was just another day when he was singing for his morning school assembly in May 2008. Little did he know, that director Piyush Jha, who was doing location recce for his film ‘Sikandar’ in villages close to Srinagar, would hear his voice and give him an opportunity that most others like him only desire for. Mehraj is in Mumbai to promote the film this week.
Written and directed by Piyush Jha, shot in location in Kashmir set to release in August 21st, BIG Pictures ‘Sikandar’ is about this 15 year old boy Sikandar who lives with his uncle and aunt in a small Kashmiri town. Now his life revolves round his foster parents, football, Nasreen, the new girl in town and dealing with some bullies. But life takes an unexpected (or was it expected?) turn when he picks up a gun from the ground. And thus, he gets drawn into the web of militants, power and violence.

“I heard Mehrajuddin’s voice for the first time when he was singing a naat (hymn) called ‘Arzoo’ for his school assembly and I recorded it on my handy cam. When I went back to my room and watched the tape, this boy’s voice remained with me for a long- long time and that’s when I decided to incorporate it in ‘Sikandar’,” says director Piyush Jha.

Piyush immediately decided to make room for this naat and Mehrajuddin in his film. A special sequence is written featuring the boy singing the song in the backdrop fitting perfectly in the film. The song ‘Arzoo’ has been recorded live on location by Mehrajuddin at the same as it was being picturized on him.

“I was very happy to know that I got a chance to sing for a Hindi film. I never thought I would get an opportunity to be a part of films, which otherwise I only watch on my TV set. I want to thank Piyush Jha for this wonderful opportunity and now I want to pursue my hobby of singing and take it forward in the best possible way.,” says Mehrajuddin.

Mehrajuddin’s father Ghulam Hasan Rath adds, “Mehrajuddin singing talent is God’s gift. This boy has never taken any formal training. I am really proud of his talent and I will encourage him to pursue it.”

Mehrajuddin belongs from a very traditional Kashmiri family, where he helps his father run his pony riding business and studying in the local school; completely disconnected from the film world. The boy never had singing aspirations until Piyush Jha perused him and his family to let him sing the song.

Sikandar casts Parzaan Dastur, the adorable little Sardar from film ‘Kuchh Kuchh Hota Hai’, now in his teens, Ayesha Kapur of ‘Black’ fame as she makes her come-back as a lead actress and introduces Arunoday Singh in a key role. Also, lending their strength and verve are R. Madhavan and Sanjay Suri. The happening trio of Shankar Ehsaan- Loy, Sandesh Shandilya and Justin-Uday with lyrics by Prasoon Joshi, Neelesh Misra and Kumaar.

To know more about the film log on to www.sikandar.bigflix.com /
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=48610492499

ANIL AMBANI, STEVEN SPIELBERG AND STACEY SNIDER MEET IN NEW YORK

Posted on July 15, 2009September 6, 2018 by reliance

ANIL AMBANI, STEVEN SPIELBERG AND STACEY SNIDER MEET IN NEW YORK
$825 MILLION INITIAL FUNDING FOR DREAMWORKS STUDIOS
DREAMWORKS TO MAKE 5-6 FILMS EVERY YEAR FOR GLOBAL AUDIENCES
FIRST PRODUCTIONS TO COMMENCE THIS YEAR FOR RELEASE IN 2010
DISNEY TO HANDLE GLOBAL MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION
RELIANCE TO RETAIN DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS FOR INDIA

New York, NY – July 15, Anil Dhirubhai Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, met with DreamWorks Studios partners Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider while in New York today.

The new motion picture company formed between Reliance BIG Entertainment and DreamWorks has been functioning since November 2008 from DreamWorks’ long time offices in Los Angeles, California.

Upon the first closing expected shortly, there will be an initial $825 million available for film production. This initial phase of funding will include an equity investment from Reliance ADA Group, debt financing from a syndication of banks, as well as funding from Disney.

With this financing, DreamWorks will eventually make 5-6 films per year. Earlier this year DreamWorks signed a distribution deal with The Walt Disney Company, who will handle marketing and distribution of the studio’s films around the world, except for India where Reliance BIG Entertainment will retain distribution rights.

DreamWorks anticipates starting its first film for the new studio later this year. They have been actively acquiring properties and developing projects for release in 2010.

In addition, DreamWorks acquired numerous attractive projects from Paramount on the separation from that studio earlier this year. An announcement of the initial films to go before the cameras will be made at a later date.

“This venture with Reliance opens a new door to our future,” said Steven Spielberg. “Their visionary step has given us a new set of dreams to work toward. Stacey and I thank them for their faith in us and their faith in the movie business.”

“All of us at DreamWorks Studios join with our Reliance partners in anticipating the financial closing,” said Stacey Snider. “We also welcome the opportunity and freedom they have given us to make the films we want to make. We always want to aim for appeal and quality whether it be for a highly commercial concept or an artistic achievement.”

Anil Ambani responded, “We are delighted to partner with such uniquely talented individuals as Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider. Ever since we looked at their business plan, I have never doubted that we would succeed in providing them with the financial muscle required to realize their dreams.”

About Reliance ADA Group

The Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group currently has a market capitalization of over Rs.1,80,000 crore (US$ 38 billion) , net worth in excess of Rs. 64,000 crore (US$ 13 billion), cash flows of Rs. 13,000 crore (US$ 3 billion) and net profit of Rs. 8,300 crore (US$ 2 billion).

Reliance-ADA Group has interests in varied sectors ranging from communications (Reliance Communications), financial services (Reliance Capital Ltd), power generation, transmission and distribution (Reliance Energy), natural resources (Reliance Natural Resources), infrastructure, media & entertainment and health care.

Across different companies, the group has a customer base of over 100 million, the largest in India, and a shareholder base of over 12 million, the largest in the world.

The Reliance ADA Group has a business presence that extends to over 20,000 towns and 450,000 villages in India, and 5 continents across the world.

Reliance BIG Entertainment

Reliance BIG Entertainment Ltd. (RBEL) (www.rbe.co.in ) is the flagship media and entertainment arm of Indian conglomerate, Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (R-ADAG), (www.relianceada.com) with significant presence in film entertainment (film production, distribution, and exhibition), broadcasting and new media ventures.

With investments over USD 1 billion already (prior to the DreamWorks deal) in its Filmed Entertainment business RBEL’s motion picture brand BIG Pictures has built a formidable film production slate in Hindi, English & other Indian languages, which it markets & distributes worldwide.

In Hollywood, BIG Pictures has development silos with Nicolas Cage’s Saturn Productions, Jim Carrey’s JC 23 Entertainment, George Clooney’s Smokehouse Productions, Chris Columbus’ 1492 Pictures, Tom Hank’s Playtone Productions, Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment, Jay Roach’s Everyman Pictures Brett Ratner’s Rat Entertainment and Julia Roberts’ Red Om Films.

About DreamWorks Studios

DreamWorks Studios is a new motion picture company led by Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider in partnership with The Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group. The new company is a continuation of DreamWorks Studios which was formed in 1994 by Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and David Geffen. The company won three consecutive Best Picture Academy Awards with “American Beauty,” “Gladiator,” and “A Beautiful Mind” (both co-produced with Universal). Among the company’s other successes have been such films as “Saving Private Ryan” (co-produced with Paramount), “The Ring,” “Minority Report” (co-produced with 20th Century Fox), “War of the Worlds,” “Dreamgirls,” and “Transformers” (all co-produced with Paramount).

BIG Pictures’ Bengali film ‘Shob Charitro Kalponik’ selected for Durban Film Festival, to be screened on July 30, 2009.

Posted on July 6, 2009September 6, 2018 by reliance

Rituparno Ghosh to attend the film festival for the screening on July 30th.

Mumbai Jul xx: BIG Pictures, motion picture brand of Reliance Big Entertainment’s Bengali film directed by the maverick Rituparno Ghosh’s ‘Shob Charitro Kalponik’ (Afterword) has been selected for the 30th Durban Film Festival ’09 to be held from 22 July to 2 August 2009. Rituparo Ghosh will be traveling to Durban, South Africa for the screening of the film scheduled for July 30th.

Written and Directed by Ritupano Ghosh‘Shob Charitro Kalponik’ a story of death and loss with many emotional and romantic moments, stars Bipasha Basu, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Jisshu Sengupta, Pauli Dam and Sohag Sen. It is produced by BIG Pictures. The film has music by Sanjoy Das and Raja Narayan Deb with a lot of folk, modern sounds and also a song by Lalan. Samik Halder is behind the camera and Arghyakamal Mitra will do the editing. Joy Goswami has written all the poems for Prosenjit’s character, who plays a poet in the film. Some of these are excerpts of old poems and some have been written exclusively for the film.
Commenting on this Rituparno Ghosh says, “………………….
Mahesh Ramanathan, Chief Operating Officer, BIG Pictures adds, “Our efforts to broaden international horizons for Bengali films are beginning to be successful. Rituparno’s work has been widely acclaimed globally. Shob Charitro Kalponik’s selection in the Panorama Section of Durban film festival is a first ever premier for a Bengali film in the African continent. With this success, BIG Pictures have now secured selection for 10 of its world cinema titles in over 12 prestigious international festivals in the last 6 months. It’s a historical first for any production house in India”

‘Shob Charitro Kalponik’ will be screened in the Panorama Section of the festival, alongside films by directors such as Woody Allen, the Dardenne Brothers, Lars von Trier, Laurent Cantet, Steven Soderbergh, Takeshi Kitano and Michael Winterbottom.

‘Shob Charitro Kalponik’ is the story of Radhika’s journey into the life of her late poet-husband, Indraneel and the revelations and contradictions she learns about Indraneel as a poet and husband. She realizes how much he romanticized their mundane, everyday life. Yet in reality, he was often insensitive, negligent and apathetic towards her. She wonders about his dual identity. How can a poet be unaware of his day-to-day realities, yet highlight moments from it in his art? Is art essentially an artifice?

A contemporary director whose playground is the complexity of raw human emotions that are often caught in the web of relationship drawn out by the society, Rituparno Ghosh has emerged as one of the finest filmmakers in India. . His 1999 film ‘Bariwali’ (Lady of the House) won him a Netpac Award and was screened at the Berlin International Film Festival. ‘Titli’ (The First Monsoon Day) and ‘Choker Bali’ (Passion Play) were the respective official entries in the competition section at the Locarno Film Festival in 2002 and 2003. In December 2008, Ghosh was awarded the prestigious Premio Arca D’Oro by the Italian government for his outstanding work. He is also the proud recipient of the National Award for his film ‘Shubho Mahurat’.