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ENTERTAINMENT IDUSTRY HIGHEST ADVERTISERS, BEST PAYMASTERS

Thesynergyonline Entertainment Bureau

NEW DELHI, MAY 24 :
ENTERTAINMENTindustry which is one of the fastest growing industrial segments in India, has become highest ad spenders and best paymasters fueled by a phenomenal top line growth rate of 39 per cent in the last three years, an ASSOCHAM Financial Pulse Study has revealed.

An ASSOCHAM Financial Pulse Study “India Entertainment Sector – A Financial Stock-Taking” has reported that the entertainment industry is amongst the highest growing sectors as its top line growth has taken place at a unprecedented growth rate of 39 per cent in the last three years surpassing the average growth rate of services sector at 17 per cent. With the equally lucrative profit growth track record, the entertainment sector has been able to beat all other sectors in advertising which accounts for 4.1 per cent of its total expenditure.

The sector is spending 40 per cent higher on salaries from last two years which is the highest amongst all sectors, said Mr. Sajjan Jindal, ASSOCHAM President while releasing the Study.

The AFP Study based on entertainment sector financial aggregates of the industry, stated that as the sector is set for high growth, the
entertainment companies have become the highest spenders on advertising in the last two years.

The recreation companies spend 4.1 per cent of their total expenses on advertising in the FY 2007-08, the highest amongst the services as well as manufacturing companies; they have also recorded one of the highest growth rate of 47 per cent. The average ratio of advertising expenses to total cost for service sector is 0.9 per cent while for the manufacturing sector it is 0.5 per cent.

In the year 2005-06, entertainment sector was the third highest advertisers with the maximum expenditure on advertising being done by consumer durables (3.3 per cent) and liquor companies (2.9 per cent). However, with 38 per cent rise in the advertising expenses, the entertainment sector rose to top advertiser position in 2006-07.

The entertainment sector has witnessed one of the fastest rise in the salaries amongst the service sectors. While for the overall industry the employee compensation rose by average 25 per cent during the last two years, the wages in entertainment industry has risen by as much as 40 per cent.

The profit before depreciation, interest and amortization (PBDITA) grew at the rate of 85 per cent in the last two years (FY08 and FY07). However, the net profit growth was comparatively less at 34 per cent due to high interest paid which accounts for 4.2 per cent of the total expenses.

As the entertainment sector has been expanding rapidly, large borrowings have been used to fund the expansion. The interest cost has risen by 82 per cent in the FY 2008-09 on top of the 50 per cent rise in the previous year. Total borrowings in the entertainment sector have increased by 68 per cent in the financial year 2007-08.

The pace of asset creation in the recreation industry has consistently been higher than the services sector in past four years rising at an average rate of 24 per cent while the overall service sector witnessed 19 per cent growth in assets.

The expenses of the entertainment companies have been rising at an average growth rate of 32 per cent during the last two years. This was higher than the average rate of increase in the expense structure of service sector which was around 20 per cent.
The entertainment industry has been on of the highest spenders on selling and distribution. Their expenditure on selling and distribution has been rising at an average growth rate of 58.2 per cent.

The recreation sector is in its growth phase in India though the market is still not fully explored. The Study Stated that certain key factors which have accounted for exuberant growth in entertainment sector includes high growth trajectory witnessed by the Indian economy leading to high per capita income, favorable demographics of the country with 57 per cent of its population in the age group below 50 years. While the country has 50 million strong middle class, it is also witnessing a cultural shift

The AFP Study noted that around Rs. 3450 crore have been pegged for investment in the entertainment sector for the next three to four years.

The present size of the recreation sector is estimated to be more than Rs. 12,530 crore with continuous rise in the contribution to services. The entertainment sector at organized level contributes around 2.2 per cent to the services in terms of the turnover. (editor@thesynergyonline.com)

INDIAN MUSIC ELECTS KUMAR TAURANI AS CHAIRMAN

Thesynergyonline Entertainment Bureau

NEW DELHI, JAN 16 :
MR Kumar Taurani, Chairman & Managing Director of Tips Industries , an India's music and film producing company, was unanimously elected as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Indian Music Industry (IMI) and Phonographic Performance Ltd [PPL] for the period 2009 - '10. He brings with him over 25 years of rich experience in the music and film industry to this Chairmanship role. He succeeds Mr. Subroto Chattopadya Managing Director - Saregama .

"The prime challenge for content owners, music & films, remains piracy and we are finding ways and means to overcome this menace",said Mr. Taurani, "In the meantime" he continued, "we are focused in enhancing our partenership with the Mobile / Telecom Industry, the Broadcast Industry and bring about increased awareness for Public Performance Licenses".

The Board follows the tradition of rotating the Chairmanship amongst its members who presently are, Mr. Shridhar Subramaniam Managing Director Sony Music - Chairman IMI/PPl 2004-'06; Mr. Ganesh Jain Chairman Venus Records; Mr. Rajat Kakar Managing Director Universal Music; Mr. G.B. Aayeer CFO RPG Enterprises - Saregama; Mr. Umesh Gupta Managing Director Aditya Music;
Mr. T. Suresh General Manager EMI-Virgin and Mr. V.J. Lazarus who continues as President IMI & PPL with Mr. Atul Churamani VP Saregama as permanant invitee.

The Indian Music Industry [IMI] was established in 1936 and today represents more than 75 per cent of the legitimate Music Industry in India. This non-profit, non-commercial organisation is the second oldest music consortium in the world and is primarily focused at present to resuscitate the lost stature of the Music Industry by way of:

* Promoting and encourage the development of music culture;

* Facilitating the evolution of fair trade and business practices;

* Ensuring a copyright compliance regime;

* Garnering Government support on matters of concern related to Copyright in Sound Recordings & Music Business as a whole.

IMI is affiliated to the International Federation of Phonographic Industry (IFPI) - a body based out of UK - London, having 1450 members in 75 Countries, which worldwide protects the interests of the Music Industry. IFPI works in close co-operation with several Inter-Governmental Organizations and has consultative status with the World Intellectual Property Organizations, the UNESCO, ILO & the World Customs Organization.

IMI has its is Headquarters in Mumbai with offices in Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai and boasts of one of the the most professional and efficient Anti-Piracy Teams in the country; headed by Padmashri Julio Ribeiro (IPS Retd.).

Phonographic Performance Limited [PPL] incorporated in 1941 is the apex licensing arm of the Indian Music Industry. PPL licenses & administers the Broadcasting, Telecasting, Public Performance and the Mobile/ Digital rights on behalf of its 142 Members.

Having its registered office in Kolkota, administrative office in Mumbai and licensing offices in New Delhi & Chennai PPL like all similar worldwide organizations servicing the Music Industry plays a key role in supporting the fair and proper monetization of music
content usage by Radio, TV, various Establishments, Events, Telecommunication Companies and others. (editor@thesynergyonline.com)

STAR INDIA TIES UP WITH RANDOM MAGAZINE

Thesynergyonline Entertainment Bureau

NEW DELHI, JAN 16 :
CHANNEL V licensed the iconic character Simpoo Singh & Lola Kutty to Random Magazine for publication. This would be first of its kind association where these popular characters would be seen in print version. Random has been bringing fresh humor to stands across the country since June 2008.

He has enthralled audiences with his unique speaking style and his unparalleled wit. And now he is set to entertain readers through a new medium. SS Sodhi a.k.a. Simpoo, Channel [v]'s most revered humor icon is all set to open his classroom in Random magazine from January 2009 through a series of columns that feature his best known qualities (his motivasson, dedicasson, voice with vibrasson, and so on) and his favorite students - Ramesss, Dinesss, Ms. Loveleen, Pankazz, and the rest of the Class! Helping Simpoo Sir will be Channel [v]'s very own Beauty on Duty, from Kerala Ms. Lola Kutty, who has taken time off from her busy schedule to allow herself to be featured in Random magazine.

Commenting on the move, Sheetal Sudhir, Vice President, Creative Director, Channel [v] says, "Both of our icons, Simpoo & Lola Kutty have had unprecedented fan following whether on television, calendar or notebooks. This is yet another step to interact with our viewers through a magazine on a monthly basis. We are sure that readers will find them as lovable and whacky as on television and would enjoy reading them month after month."

Speaking on the license association Nanette D'sa, Senior Vice President, Licensing, Star India says, "Over the last many years, Channel [v] has developed a great franchise of characters that are unique and iconic to the youth. These characters resonate a great combination of wit and creativity and that's what encouraged us to look at a possibility of licensing them to a magazine where they make humorous reading. Besides the monthly columns, soon you would find Lola Kutty & Simpoo in the form of books as well."

On the launch of the first issue featuring Lola & Simpoo, Jatin Varma, Publisher & Editor, Random Magazine says, "We always look at entertaining our readers with an innovative approach. We have done that in the past and will continue to do that in the days to come. Through this relationship with Channel [v], we are looking at bringing in a lot of value for our readers." (editor@thesynergyonline.com)

MYRIAD EMOTIONS, SITUATIONS COME TOGETHER FROM BALAJI TELEFILMS

Thesynergyonline Entertainment Bureau

NEW DELHI, JAN 09 :
AS we enter the New Year, it's time to make way for new experiences! Starting January 19th at 10:00 p.m., there are two more new reasons to tune-in to NDTV Imagine. The creative association of talented individuals that spawned a series of memorable and blockbuster TV shows will now unveil two great tales yet again.

As part of its new programming line-up, NDTV Imagine will debut two back-to-back new shows from Balaji Telefilms. This exciting new time-band will kick start with 'Bandini' at 10:00 p.m. followed by 'Kitani Mohabbat Hai' at 10:30 p.m. and will air Monday-Thursday only on NDTV Imagine.

These shows will be filled with uninterrupted moments of engaging entertainment, powerful drama, unpredictable twists and great storylines.

Breaking away from the cult of conventional soaps for the first time ever, Balaji Telefilms presents Bandini, an invigorating tale of a young girl who is forced into a marriage of convenience with an elderly man twice her age. Set in the backdrop of rural India, this narrative vividly traces the journey of Santu and her tryst with destiny.

This volatile story of age, class and caste divide will see debutant Aasiya Kazi as the young girl Santu alongside TV's most popular face Ronit Roy, as destiny binds two strangers together in this stirring saga of greed, pride, deceit and
traditions.

Love changes people in the most unbelievable way. How far will love take you? Is it strong enough to take up the challenges? Is it deep enough to survive all conflicts? 'Kitani Mohabbat Hai' answers these questions in more than one way for Arohi and

Arjun, the main protagonists of the show. Two completely opposite individuals, who think and behave differently, come together in this powerful and heart-warming love saga.

Arohi hails from the picturesque valley of Panchgani and is a vivacious young girl who believes in the power of love, while Arjun is a cool and calm casanova who dislikes women and refuses to believe that 'someone somewhere is made for you'. Set against the backdrop of music, Kitani Mohabbat Hai is a passionate story of loving, losing and yet, living… for Arohi, Arjun and their families.

Kitani Mohabbat Hai' will see a mix of some fresh and popular faces. Karan Kundra makes his debut on television as Arjun, while Kritika Kamra essays the character of Arohi who is blessed with a melodious voice. Hiten Tejwani and a cast of talented actors like Virendra Saxena, Neena Gupta, Sudha Shivpuri, Sheeba, Dimple Jhangiani and a host of budding new talent will be seen playing significant roles in this show.

Announcing the two new shows, Shailja Kejriwal, EVP content, NDTV Imaginesaid, "Bandini & Kitani Mohabbat Hai are shows that capture every emotion, from love to hate and from joy to sadness and from aspirations to blind ambition. The backdrop and settings are distinct from each other and unique in their own right. The cast is fresh and the story is very entertaining.

Put this together with the creative and production excellence of Balaji and NDTV Imagine and you have all the ingredients that will make these shows a staple diet with viewers for one hour, night after night!"

Adds Ekta Kapoor, Creative Director, Balaji Telefilms , "I'm very pleased with the line-up of our shows we have created for NDTV Imagine. I am equally excited to be back with a 10:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. time-band, giving viewers a chance to experience once again, one hour of pure entertainment from Balaji Telefilms on prime-time. I am delighted to begin my innings with NDTV Imagine with Bandini and Kitani Mohabbat Hai. The shows are an entertaining, engaging mix of storylines, settings and characters."

Refreshingly different and endearingly realistic, the shows are sure to strike a chord with viewers. So be sure to tune into *'Bandini' and 'Kitani Mohabbat Haionly on NDTV Imagine — as it promises to be dynamic, different, and most importantly, entertaining!

CLUB - T LOUNGES & CLUBS ; CLUBBING REINVENTED

Thesynergyonline Entertainment Bureau

NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 29 :
CLUB -T is a new brand launched in Delhi by leading businessman Anshuman Kapur fondly known as Tubby Kapur in the party circuit. Initially they have launched two lounges and one club in Delhi & Gurgaon. "With the launch of our initial two venues in Delhi, NCR and plans for more, the brand CLUB - T is here to stay and calls for some lively thumps all across" is what the owner cum chairman Tubby Kapur had to say.

CLUB - T, The Lounge Bar, with a 24 hr lounge running license, is situated in The Metropolitan Hotel, Connaught Palace; whereas in Gurgaon, they have launched CLUB-T, SUPERCLUB GGN that basically is a combination of club & a lounge. This versatile Brand has it all what it takes to be in the leading ladder of entertainment; being empowered with top class management and high class security. The USPs of the Brand lies in the unrivaled food & cocktails of international standards.

Music and Ambience being two key elements of any lounge and club are a priority at CLUB - T. They are offering the best of all music genres from across the world and best of the House music to top it all. The decors have been personally looked into by Mr. Tubby Kapur, who holds an experience of more than seven years in this industry.

Keeping in mind the trends, liking of present days clubbers and youth, they have done up both venues with latest light and music equipments. The décor is very modern and updated with the international standards of clubbing. "The integrity of CLUB -T sound & acoustic systems shall play a vital role in its success" added Mr. Kapur. Also, they have an entire team of professionals who work behind the scenes to provide the top class services as an end product to the clients.

With events calendar running round the year, they have plans to bring the best for their clientele. It seems that back in the capital with this new brand he is once again all set to grace the city's nightlife circuit.

With these plans to establish the brand they surely know how to turn the city into a livewire. "we purely believe and intend in bringing forth a truly inimitable lounging & clubbing experience for the cosmopolitan culture, so let's Par - T with CLUB - T." Says Tubby (editor@thesynergyonline.com)

DELHI GEARS UP FOR 'PLAYSTATION EXPERIENCE'

Thesynergyonline Entergtainment Bureau

NEW DELHI, NOV 25 :
SONY Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) threw open an invitation, yet again, to the city's gaming enthusiasts to witness a larger-than-life expo dedicated exclusively to PlayStation- the final word on virtual gaming. 'PlayStation Experience 2008', was a two- day long event of unadulterated fun, in a high - octane arena at Ansal Plaza.

PlayStation hosted this expo for gamers to convene and conquer new games. Visitors thronged the venue with friends and family to witness the fun and magic of the world of PlayStation. The expo this year is going to be spread across three cities - Mumbai followed by Bangalore and Delhi. Delhi-ites were overwhelmed with the detailed and innovative decor including a set up of about 100 consoles, several plasma screens, ingeniously dressed volunteers and lots more.

The Expo was a platform for the gaming enthusiasts to experience a complete spread of entertainment on PlayStation. The event was bifurcated into various zones like the Sports Zone, Speed Zone, Action Zone, Shooter Zone, RPG's and Platformers, Blue Ray &HD Zone and Social Zone with a creative ambience that depicted the style of games.

It was an experience beyond expectations! Sony PlayStation and EA presented a multitude of games on PS2, PSP and PS3 consoles. Games like MotorStorm, Dead SpaceTM, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, FIFA 09, Need for SpeedTM Undercover, Killzone, Mirror's EdgeTM and many more were made available to play. Sony Computer Entertainment Europe also unveiled the spanking new PSP 3000 series priced at INR 9490, featuring an advanced LCD viewing that further improves the very popular, high resolution PSP display along with a built - in microphone.

The company also declared the plan to launch the 80GB PS3 for the Indian market along with games, reflecting the growing entertainment market for SCEE.

Mr. Atindriya Bose, Country Manager, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, said "Gaming has increasingly become an accepted form of entertainment amongst the Indian consumers. This time around, we aim to capture the attention of the Indian youth who is modern and gives value to quality entertainment solutions. After its unparalleled success in Mumbai last year, we have been compelled to take this initiative to the other cities as well, wherein the gamers will witness something out of the ordinary, something that has taken the world by storm!"

The General Manager of EA Games India Pvt. Ltd., Ajay Khanna was present and the Playstation Experience event and added, "Quality of EAs games just keep getting better and we've got brand new franchises like Mirrors EdgeTM and Dead SpaceTM besides bestsellers like FIFA 09 and Need for SpeedTM Undercover for our fans. No doubt these games will help us provide our fan base with the most exciting holiday lineup we've ever presented."
SCEE also rolled out an assortment of games including:
Resistance 2
Date of Release : November 2008
Description : Resistance - Fall of Man had critics raving over its game play, visual style and alternate history back story. Resistance 2 transports players across the Atlantic to a besieged 1950s America where it builds on Fall of Man's legacy. There will be bigger battles, spectacular landscapes and an even more gripping narrative told from Hale's perspective
MRP : 2899/-

MotorStorm Pacific Rift

Date of Release : November 2008
Description : MotorStorm® Pacific Rift welcomes you to the island, a tropical paradise deep in the heart of the pacific. This new racing location is a place of contrasts, with huge towering peaks, soaring over thick sweaty lowland jungles. Flaming volcanoes spewing ash over blackened deserts and rolling great blankets of lava down through forest and swamp to sandy beaches and the azure sea
MRP : 2899/-

Locoroco 2

Date of Release : November 2008
Description : LocoRoco 2 ups the action from its predecessor with 25 colourful new stages, including hidden challenges and 6 new mini games and introduces a range of new actions to help the LocoRoco defend their homeland once more. Music is key to LocoRoco 2 - with the LocoRoco preferring to be at home singing than playing the hero - and by singing in specific parts of the game, new musical notes will appear which can be collected by the LocoRoco.
MRP : 1599/-

Little Big Planet

Date of Release : November 2008
Description : LittleBigPlanet™ is a unique game combining an amazing platform adventure with a huge social community enabling consumers to play, create and share their gaming. The world of LittleBigPlanet™ is unlike anything you have visited before: a handcrafted landscape made from recognizable materials together with pure imagination!
MRP : 2899 . (editor@thesynergyonline.com)

THOMSON FOUNDATION UNVEILS SECOND EDITION OF 39TH IFFI

Thesynergyonline Entertainment Bureau

GOA, INDIA, PARIS , FRANCE , NOV 25 :
THE Thomson Foundation for Film & TV Heritage unveiled the second edition of the "IFFI-Film Heritage Section" at the 39th International Film Festival of India. The "IFFI-Film Heritage Section", will open this year with a major restoration of the 1955 French film, Lola Montès.

With a view to highlight the restored version of Max Ophuls' Lola Montès, the theme this year for the heritage section is "Women!" Films by George Cukor, Luis Bunuel, Mikio Naruse, Maurice Pialat and Ritwik Ghatak will be screened in this section. IFFI 2008 will take place in Goa from November 22 to December 2, 2008.

A 1955 masterpiece by director Max Ophuls, Lola Montès was also the opening film at the Cannes Classics section in the 61st International Film Festival of Cannes in May 2008. The restoration of Lola Montès has been much acclaimed and the restored version has since been screened in renowned international festivals throughout Europe and the USA.

Séverine Wemaere, Managing Director of Thomson Foundation, said, "It is our endeavor to sensitize and promote awareness among the audience and the people involved in cinema about the importance of restoring and preserving film heritage,. With an aim to highlight worldwide film heritage, The Thomson Foundation initiated and proposed to the International Film Festival of India to create a film heritage section in 2007. It gives me immense pleasure to see that we are continuing with our commitment to the cause and I take this opportunity to thank the organising committee of the 39th International Film Festival of India, Goa 2008, for their encouragement and support. Films are a part of human culture and history. Today, they run the risk of total disappearance unless we all understand the necessity of film preservation and act accordingly.

"The Thomson Foundation's contribution to the Lola Montès restoration project underscores its efforts to promote original masterpieces in order to convey their importance in cinema history, the need for their preservation and the need to enable public exposure to these works. The second edition marks the continuity of the partnership in association with Cinémathèque française, Film & Television Institute of India and the support of the Film & TV Office of French Embassy in India," she added.

The Thomson Foundation was a key pillar of this huge restoration work as part of a united project team that included La Cinémathèque Française; the rights owners Films du Jeudi and Marcel Ophuls and the Franco-American Cultural Fund. The restoration of Lola Montès was complicated due to reconstruction of the original editing and due to physical damages that could only be recovered with digital technologies and processes.

The goal was to "rediscover" Ophuls' original version faithful to the author's wishes The Thomson Foundation brought together its Paris-based team with the best experts from Technicolor services in Los Angeles for this mega project. (editor@thesynergyonline.com)

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 03 :
TODAY, NDTV Imagine invites you to a private conversation between India's most sought after couple and the legend of Indian cinema! Amitabh Bachchan puts his son and daughter in law to test in this enlightening and entertaining special episode of Big B's Den this Friday, 03 October at 10:00p.m. only on NDTV Imagine.

It's an unforgettably candid interview with the couple as they open up and share their most memorable moments together on the Unforgettable Tour. From quick responses to Big B's 'quick-question' round to unveiling of secrets of Abhishek's Gurumantra, this episode promises to be a memorable one.

Don't miss the very sincere revelation by Ash about her fondness for New York City, which holds special meaning for both her and Abhishek. Get a glimpse of Abhi-Ash's performances on Khaike Paan Banaras Waala and a very special guest who joined then Bachchan's on tour as a spectator, Sweta Nanda (Abhishek's sister) who flew all the way from Delhi for Raksha Bandhan.

It's an unforgettable episode that you will not want to miss. Tune in to Big B's Den, this Friday at 10 pm only on NDTV Imagine. (editor@thesynergyonline.com)

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 2 :
TO celebrate the festive season, Thums Up, India ’s Cola brand is all set to launch a new look “Taste The Thunder” communication initiative. The launch of the new integrated marketing communication plan includes airing a powerful TV commercial, featuring Bollywood King, “Akshay Kumar”.

The Thums Up brand ambassador is seen performing adventurous and thrilling feats like mountaineering and rollercoaster ride and reaching out for his Thums Up. The latest communication initiative brings out the “Anything For Thunder” attitude of the Indian male. The integrated communication initiative is shot in two series on a never-before seen scale and uses latest cutting edge computer
graphics.

According to Kashmira Chadha, Director Marketing, Coca-Cola India “The latest Thums Up initiative being launched during the festive season aims at portraying the anything for my thunder attitude of the Indian male. He is a person who will do anything to get his favorite soft drink. Nothing can come in between him and his Thums Up. To drive this message, an integrated communication plan, involving both above and below the line initiatives are being rolled out.”

In addition to leveraging mass media, integrated communication plan is complimented by a range of on the ground initiatives - road shows and contests across all key markets. Conceptualized by Leo Burnett’s Executive Creative Director Sainath Saraban and shot by Malaysian Director, Farouk Aljoffrey. A similar initiative for Thums Up has been launched in the South market featuring Tollywood Super Star Mahesh Babu.

According to Bollywood King and Thums Up Brand Ambassador, Akshay Kumar, “It feels great to be associated with a brand like Thums Up. It is a brand which is all about energy and a go getting spirit, these are qualities which I closely identify with. What excites me even more is the thunderous taste experience offered by Thums Up. It is an experience which I am sure, would find a special appeal amongst all my fans in the festive season.”

The TV commercial shot in two series revolves around thrilling feats being performed by Akshay Kumar to get hold of his favorite soft drink-Thums Up. In the first film, a Thums Up bottle is about to fall into an abyss over a cliff, when Akshay Kumar, in a Mountain gear, jumps over the cliff to grab his bottle of Thums Up.

In the second film a Thums Up bottle falls from a rollercoaster and Akshay performs a brave feat by catching his bottle of Thums Up, while sitting in a rollercoaster. Both these adventurous feats bring out the “Anything For Thunder” attitude of the Indian male.

Commenting on the films, Sainath Saraban, Executive Creative Director, Leo Burnett, said: “A Thums Up drinker’s thirst for his Thums Up is very different from any other thirst, which is why the challenge this time was to do something bigger and better than last year. And in this film we feel we have something that truly lives up to the stature of Thums Up. The stunts are amazing in the two part series. It’s unlike any other Thums Up film you would have ever seen.” (npsinha@thesynergyonline.com)

NEW DELHI, AUG 15 :
MUMBAI'S multiplex - Cinemax, will launch its 21st theatre facility in Faridabad, Haryana. It will be open to the audiences with the most looked-forward-to-movie of the season ‘Singh is Kinng’ on the date of the movie’s release. Another notable achievement for the company is Cinemax’s distribution arm acquiring the sole distributorship for ‘Singh and Kinng’ in the state of Haryana.

Speaking about the new property Mr Devang Sampat, Senior Vice President, Cinemax India Ltd said, “We at Cinemax have been providing cinema lovers in Maharashtra and Gujarat with the best movie-viewing experience, be it due to our screen size, picture, sound quality or the innovative offers for our consumers."

" With CINEMAX Faridabad, we are aiming to make a grand entry into the North of the country which is a very important market for us. "We are here to provide the movie enthusiasts of Faridabad, a state of the art entertainment complex as entertainment and comfort are the hallmarks of Cinemax and will be for years to come , " he added.

Cinemax Faridabad, is a fine three screen multiplex which can seat 730 patrons with 16 recliner seats in Screen 2, where one can sink into cozy sofas that recline up to 150 degrees. Patrons can also savor personalized café service here while enjoying their favorite movies.

Cinemax Faridabad is a symphony of style with a front foyer and intelligent lighting, along with top-of-the-line amenities. The three-screen multiplex will also offer patrons an out-of this-world experience. Superb acoustic systems will enhance the experience of watching a movie.

Besides boasting of up to date technology, CINEMAX Faridabad will also host shows, special screenings and film festivals of regional films to suit the preferences of all its patrons. Starting this week are the three screens - Screen 1 capacity - 217 patrons, Screen 2 capacity - 265 patrons (Recliner – 16, Normal – 249) & Screen 3 capacity - 248 patrons.

True to its byline of “Enjoy Relax: Cinemax”, Cinemax Multiplex so far has hosted number of high flying Bollywood movie premieres and regional films at its properties in Maharashtra and Gujarat. These multiplex experts aim to conduct similar successful and glamorous events in Faridabad as well. (npsinha@thesynergyonline.com)

NEW DELHI, JULY 22 :
ELEVEN international cities, 5 superstars, 3 special celebrity guest performers, a power-packed music director duo and choreographer, loads of dancers and musicians… it promises to be an Unforgettable experience.

NDTV Imagine the favourite entertainment destination announced its association with the Unforgettable Tour featuring the brightest stars from Indian cinema.As official Global Broadcast Partners of the tour, NDTV Imagine has lined up an exciting variety of programming that promises to capture the magic of the tour and present it to viewers across India.

The Unforgettable tour brings together the greatest icons of Indian Cinema - Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Bachchan, Preity Zinta and Ritiesh Deshmukh, on one common global platform. The first leg of the tour kicks off in Toronto on July 18th and then travels to other exotic destinations including Trinidad, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Atlantic City, Chicago, New York, Vancouver, London and Amsterdam. Adding to the star-power, each show will feature celebrity guest performers such as heartthrob action man Akshay Kumar, the evergreen dancing queen Madhuri Dixit and the vivacious Shilpa Shetty.

The Unforgettable Tour Diaries – Daily update capsules that will capture all the behind the scenes action from the minute they land in each city, their experiences from shopping to sight-seeing, interactions with fans and leading up to each concert. The Tour Diaries will also present special features which capture interesting trivia about the stars and their memories of various performances and tours. - Curtain raiser– An exciting sneak-peak into the all the concerts including the rehearsals and other events… leading into the main gala show. - The Grand Finale – A spectacular, unforgettable night presenting power-packed performances by all the stars.

Detailing the association with the Unforgettable Tour, Sameer Nair, CEO, NDTV Imagine, said, "A once-in-a-lifetime, never before seen concert with all Amitabh, Abhishek and Aishwarya Bachchan performing alongside a galaxy of stars, promises to be nothing less than Unforgettable. As Global Broadcast Partners to the tour, NDTV Imagine is taking the audience on a round-the-world tour, giving them the opportunity to witness these spectacular concerts in all their glory. In addition, we have plans for many exciting and innovative properties that will revolve around the whole tour, bringing alive the entire experience for our audience." (npsinha@thesynergyonline.com)

NEW DELHI , JULY 20 :
THE 10th Osian's-Cinefan Festival of Asian and Arab Cinema, which saw its grand finale on Sunday, is the largest festival of its kind in the world and screened over 200 feature and short fiction films from around 40 countries.

Even as the award-winners were congratulating each other on their awards, they and the viewers looked back at ten days when they got to see some of the best in Asian and Arab cinema and some from even other parts of the world.

The awards were given away at an event by the Chairpersons of the various juries, including well known Indonesian actress and producer Christine Hakim presided over the international jury, and Sai Paranjpye who headed the Indian competition, at function conducted by renowned actress Koel Purie and Raman Chawla from Osian's. Filmmakers received loud ovation as they to receive their awards, and became the cynosure of the large media as they stepped out after the award ceremony.

Those present at the event included Ramesh Sippy, Sudhir Mishra, Girish Kasarvalli Kundan Shah, Rahul Dholakia, Revathy, Tejaswini Kolhapure, Shashanka Ghosh, Tara Sharma, Raima Sen, and Shibani Kashyap from India. The foreign dignitaries included Amos Gitai, Annamarie Jacil and Saleh Bakre.

As the Festival was marking ten years of its inception, it introduced several new features that have not only given the event a special boost but will help filmmakers all over Asian and Arab countries.

In addition to the annual award for writing, the Festival this year bestowed an additional award: the Osian's Lifetime Achievement Award for Contribution to Cinema, given to renowned filmmaker Mrinal Sen. The writer's award, renamed the Aruna Vasudev Lifetime Achievement Award for Writing on Cinema, was presented to Jose "Pete" F. Lacaba from the Philippines.

The Festival was organized at Siri Fort complex and the Alliance Francaise in New Delhi from 10 to 20 July 2008 by Osian's Connoisseurs of Art in association with the Government of Delhi. Committed to bringing the finest films from India, Asia and Arab countries, it aims to break down artistic hierarchies of the popular and the highbrow to reinvent a thoughtful and creative film culture. Cinefan began in 1999 as a small festival of Asian Cinema with just 27 films, but grew after it was acquired by and merged into Osian's Connoisseurs of Art in 2004 and became Osian's-Cinefan.

The award money this year was raised to over Rs. One crore (approximately $ 250, 000) for the Competition Sections and Lifetime Achievement Awards. The winners of the Lifetime Achievement Award were presented Rs. 800,000 (approx. $ 20,000) each.

The two new Joint Festival Directors Ms Latika Padgaonkar and Ms Indu Shrikent took over the reigns of the Festival from renowned critic Aruna Vasudev – who founded the Cinefan Festival of Asian Cinema in 1999. She has decided to step down, though will continue to support the festival from outside as an advisor.

The Hong Kong films 'Sparrow' by maverick filmmaker Johnny To and 'My Blueberry Nights' by the eminent Wong Kar-wai were the opening and centrepiece films, while the Indian 'Mumbai Cutting' which has been directed by eleven prominent directors was the closing film of the Festival.

The Festival collectively had six juries comprising twenty-two distinguished individuals from the global film community, each of whom brought a unique perspective from every sphere of filmmaking. Esteemed directors, screenwriters, actors and cinematographers together presided over the awards selection for the films in competition, deciding the winners in four categories - Asian and Arab, Indian, First Features and In-Tolerance.

In addition, there were three-member juries each for the NETPAC (Network for Promotion of Asian Cinema) and FIPRESCI (International Federation of Film Critics).

The Best Films in the Asian-Arab and Indian Competition sections were awarded Rs two million each ($ 50,000) and the Best Director in each section won Rs 800,000 ($ 20,000). The Special Jury Award and the Best Actor and Actress took away Rs 200,000 ($ 5000). An Audience Award set up for a film in competition won Rs 200,000 (approx $ 5000).

The new competition section dealing with themes of In-Tolerance has been created this year to showcase feature and documentary films that respond to or deal with the intolerance of our times. The Best Film in this category will take home a cash award of Rs 800,000 (approx. $ 20,000).

The Festival also saw the introduction of the first-ever Competition for First Features. The Best First Feature received Rs 200,000 (approx $ 5000) in addition to a guaranteed support of Rs 800,000 (approx $ 20,000) from fFOOD: The Film Fund - Osian's Originating Development, created by Osian's, for the next feature film.

Well known Indonesian actress and producer Christine Hakim presided over the international jury of the Festival. The Indian members of the juries are: Ketan Mehta, Sai Paranjpye, Nagesh Kukunoor, Bappaditya Bandopadhyay, Arun Khopkar and Meena Karnik.

A major highlight of the event was the unveiling of the scale model of the Osianama, Osian's flagship cultural complex and the most expensive Raja Ravi Varma painting bought to be housed in the Osianama.

One new feature was FILMCRAFT: SCREENPLAY (WORLD CINEMA) showing films chosen with a view to opening a debate on whether the screenplay is a necessary evil and whether the verbal document called the screenplay can presage the living reality of images and sounds in cinema.

In a NEW FOCUS, the festival for the first time had short Fiction Films of less than 40 minutes duration from Asian and Arab countries. There was a special collection of films from Israel, and another on Palestinian cinema.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (WORLD CINEMA) celebrated the significance of the number 10 on the occasion of the festival's 10th anniversary. The films shown explored the manner in which cinema has navigated the narrow alley between censorship, transgression and pleasure throughout its history.

A new section, SPRINGBOARD, has been introduced to pay a tribute to other film festivals. As part of the tenth anniversary, this section comprised of films from earlier editions, selected by the Festival's Founder Aruna Vasudev.

The Festival, which saw the premiere of a large number of new feature films from Asia and Arab countries including Pakistan, also had its usual features like ASIAN FRESCOES with new films from Asian and Arab countries and INDIAN MOSAIC that showcased the richness and diversity of their cinemas, and CROSS-CULTURAL ENCOUNTERS with films that show a cross-cultural connection between Asian, Arab and other cultures.

However, the Festival has gone beyond merely good films. While films are the ultimate stress busters and the most reliable source of entertainment, film festivals provide the platform to argue, agree, learn, challenge and ignite one's imagination. In 2005, Osian's launched IBM2 – a series of seminars, conferences, exhibitions, auctions and panel discussions to draw attention to the entire cycle of a film's life. This year, IBM2 included: Talent Campus India – a six-day workshop for thirty-one aspiring filmmakers from South Asia (including 28 from India) in collaboration with Berlinale Talent Campus, Berlin International Film Festival and Max Mueller Bhavan; ABC Series IV, an Art, Book & Film Memorabilia Auction, which was a huge success; and the Osian's Asian II Exhibition that brought together the world's largest collection of Japanese Samurai armour and Kabuto helmets alongside a focus on Asian erotica; Lectures and Panel Discussions. The discussions included one on 'A Matter of life and Death', to ascertain whether critics can make or mar a film.

Paul Schrader, one of the world's most famous screenplay writers, delivered a Masterclass on Screenwriting at the Festival where two films written by him, 'Mishima' and Martin Scorsese's 'Taxi Driver' were screened at the festival.

In keeping with its central theme of LITERATURE IN CINEMA, there was a discussion on Writing and Cinema about the Novel in Adaptation. The Festival had films based on novels and adaptations, meetings with directors and novelists, a tribute to Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz and Alain Robbe-Grillet's Gradiva – directed and scripted by the author himself. Tributes were also paid to two other renowned cinema personalities - Taiwanese director Edward Yang and Indonesian actress Christine Hakim who presided over the Asian-Arab jury. A Shakespeare corner was created where children from various schools came together to enact Shakespeare each evening.

Apart from informal interactions, the Festival saw around twenty press conferences with Indian and foreign delegates.

Earlier in a preview event in Mumbai, the original 'yahoo' star of India, Shammi Kapoor, was felicitated in grand style with a Lifetime Achievement Award in a grand finale to a two-day Festival held on 13 and 14 June.

1. Best Film Award: Tokyo Sonata by Kiyoshi Kurosawa 'For its sensitive and panoramic portrayal of dramatically changing socio-economic and family values,'

For his cinematic treatment of intense internal human conflicts in difficult situations and for his deep understanding of human nature and excellent handling of actors.

3. Best Actor: Amor Hakkar in his own film The Yellow House 'For being the soul of the film and for giving a sensitive, elegant and understated performance in the film,'

4. Best Actress Award: Hiam Abbas and Rona Lipaz- Michael in The Lemon Tree 'For portraying complex emotions in conflicting situations and for balancing and complementing each other'

5. Special Jury Award: 'Salt of This Sea' by Annamarie Jacir 'For her courage as a film maker and for her intensely personal journey of self discovery through one of the most complex conflicts of our time,'

7. Best Film Award: Gulabi Talkies directed by Girish Kasarvalli by Basanikumar Patil and Amrita Patil For its multi-layered portrayal of a vibrant people being dragged unknowingly into an important socio-economic transition of recent times, and for its deft and masterful blending of artistic sensitivity with stunning realism.

8. Best Director: Remo for A Story of Red Hills For effectively transposing his magnificent obsession about a dying folk art into a cinematic form and for successfully reaching out with his first film told straight from the heart

9. Best Actor: Shared by two actors Rajat Kapur for The Prisoner by Pryas Gupta for powerfully bringing out the inner angst of a troubled soul – a social misfit who remains a captive even when released from jail, and Govind Namdeo for his role in Kabootar by Maqbool Khan

For a stunning performance as an under world don bringing a new dimension and meaning to the term "Menace"

10. Best Actress Award: Umashree for Gulabi Talkies by Girish Kasarvalli for bringing to life Gulabi, a fisher mid-wife, a truly multi-faceted character, for her effort less portrayal of a women at once wise and childlike, brave and vulnerable, strong and compassionate.

12. FIPRESCI COMPETITION: Ramchand Pakistani by Mehreen Jabbar and Salt Of This Sea by Annemarie Jacir for the quality of their cinematic treatment in depicting the cause to humanity through the futility of politics

NEW DELHI, JULY 14 :
THE filmmaker Mrinal Sen and eminent author and screenplay writer Jose "Pete" F. Lacaba from the Philippines received the Lifetime Achievement Awards for their contribution to cinema and writing respectively during the Grand Opening of the Tenth Osian's-Cinefan Festival of Asian and Arab Cinema here.

In a ceremony befitting the largest festival of Asian and Arab cinema in the world, the two received the awards from Delhi Chief Minister Mrs Sheila Dikshit and veteran filmmaker Basu Chatterjee respectively in the presence of Osian's Connoisseurs of Art Chairman Neville Tuli, Festival Joint Directors Ms Latika Padgaonkar and Ms Indu Shrikent, and festival founder Ms Aruna Vasudev.

The opening of the festival last night at Sirirfort Auditorium also marked the emotional but formal handing over of the responsibility of running of the Festival by Ms Vasudev, who had functioned as Director till last year, to the two new Joint Directors.

Ms Dikshit, who has been associated with the Festival and has supported it since its inception in 1999 and has supported as she appreciates this is the primary festival of north India, declared the Festival open. She paid a tribute to Ms Vasudev for running the festival till now and said she was confident it would grow from strength to strength.

In his welcome address, Mr Tuli said the need today was to venture out into new projects without being too worried about the results, if the conviction was there. Paying a tribute to Ms Vasudev, he said it was this conviction which made her join up with him for this festival. There was need to create a respectability for the arts and keep art at the centre of creative sensibilities. Introducing the concept of OSIANAMA film complex in Mumbai, he said there was need to synthesize art and cinema to give them respectability. All arts have to interconnect, he said. There was need for people for a passion in the arts, be it cinema or other forms.

In the programme compered by actor Rajat Kapur, Mr Tuli presented Ms Vasudev with a shawl as a mark of respect.

Ms Vasudev said when she had launched the 'Cinemaya', the world's first film quarterly on Asian cinema in 1988, people had been sceptical. She later launched the Cinefan Film Festival of Asian Cinema in 1999 on a meagre budget of Rs 600,000 given by the Delhi Government. Joining hands with Osian's did not mean a surrender of independence, but the coming together of minds.

The two Joint Directors, Ms Padgaonkar and Ms Shrikent, said the festival was expected to raise awareness about the best in Asian and Arab cinema. They said the Festival now has a new look and a new feel with several sections being introduced for the first time.

Mr Sen said in his acceptance speech that he was receiving the award with quiet dignity. This was because he felt that he could still do a lot more to justify the honours bestowed on him.

Mr Lacaba said after receiving the Aruna Vasudev Lifetime Achiement Award that it was very rare for a script writer to get acknowledged for his work, since the credit for a film went either to the director or the stars.

Members of the six juries were also presented to the audience during the ceremony. Three audio-visuals were shown on the occasion, on OSIAN's, the Mumbai festival last month, and on actor Shammi Kapoor who was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement award in Mumbai.

The Hong Kong film 'Sparrow' by maverick filmmaker Johnny To was the opening film. 'My Blueberry Nights' by the eminent Wong Kar-wai will be the centrepiece film, while the Indian 'Mumbai Cutting' which has been directed by eleven prominent directors will be the closing film of the Festival.

Around 200 feature and short fiction films from around 40 countries are to be screened at this year's Festival, which has gradually emerged as the largest festival of its kind in the world and is introducing several features from this year.

The awards for the films will be presented during the Festival being held at Siri Fort complex and Alliance Francaise in New Delhi from 10 to 20 July 2008. Osian's-Cinefan is organized by Osian's Connoisseurs of Art in association with the Government of the Delhi. Committed to bringing the finest films from India , Asia and Arab countries it aims to break down artistic hierarchies of the popular and the highbrow to reinvent a thoughtful and creative film culture. Cinefan began in 1999 as a small festival of Asian Cinema with just 27 films, but grew after it was acquired by and merged into Osian's Connoisseurs of Art in 2004 and became Osian's-Cinefan.

The award money this year would be over Rs. One Crore (approximately $ 250, 000) for the Competition Sections and Lifetime Achievement Awards. The winners of the Lifetime Achievement Award were presented Rs. 800,000 (approx. $ 20,000) each.

Extremely happy to have been invited to the Osian's-Cinefan Festival, he said this was his first visit to India. While he was generally impressed by the strides made by Indian cinema to preserve their culture, he felt there was a need for more films from here to reach out to his country.

Johnny specializes in black humour, and that is what he had tried in his films. Asked about the use of minimal dialogues in his film, he said visuals appealed to him more than words. This was also his way of reaching out to a larger audience.

Commenting on the lack of big stars, he pointed out that with them the director had no role as they virtually took over the film. It took him three years to complete Sparrow and his star cast gave him their dedicated time. While his movie was about pickpockets, it was almost lyrical in content and the sequences appeared choreographed. Music was integral to his style of film making.

Johnny said the film industry in Hong Kong had not changed very much after the British handed over the island nation to China, but the standard of films remained low since the majority of films were commercial blockbusters. However, one encouraging sign of the last ten years was that some serious and personalized cinema was now also being made.

He said the word Sparrow represented the struggle for freedom, but the Hong Kong word for sparrow also meant a pickpocket. He said he had taken the services of a retired pickpocket to train his actors.

Born in Hong Kong in 1955, Johnnie To began his film career in 1973 as a producer for Television Broadcast Ltd. Following his directorial debut with the martial arts fantasy The Enigmatic Case, To's career gained recognition in the late 1980s. Through the trademark realism of his company, Milky Way Films, the maverick filmmaker created a new tone in Hong Kong cinema which instilled a creative energy into a stagnant Hong Kong genre. If there's one name that has kept Hong Kong cinema alive from its post-handover hangover to today, it's Johnnie To. From comedies to romantic melodramas, gangster shoot-em-ups to bizarre fantasies, To has made nearly fifty films in his illustrious career, often at a rate of three or four a year. He's living proof that the best genre films are now made in Hongkong.

Osian's announced the acquisition of the Leonard Schrader Collection, the private collection of early Hollywood Lobby Cards. For the Osian's Collection, the acquisition of this archive is another step towards becoming the world's largest repositories of film memorabilia material. While it already possesses the world's largest collection of Indian cinema publicity material, with the Leonard Schrader Collection coming in, the Osian's archive further expands its history of Hollywood cinema, an endeavor that is unmatched in its scale and vision. This collection will be housed at the Osianama, Osian's flagship arts and culture complex due to open in Mumbai in 2009.

The Leonard Schrader collection consists of 8462 vintage lobby cards of early cinema, many of the films now lost irretrievably, and 5000 related items that were put together and painstakingly preserved by the late screenwriter/filmmaker Leonard Schrader over 27 years. Leonard Schrader was the well-known writer of films such as The Yakuza and Mishima and The Kiss of the Spiderwoman (the last two being shown at this year's Osian's-Cinefan) and was the brother of Paul Schrader.

He also earned an Academy Award Nomination for his screenplay for Kiss of the Spider Woman. Having studied writing with the likes of Nelson Algren, Richard Yates, Kurt Vonnegut and Jorge Luis Borges, he had an abiding interest in Japanese history and culture. Few knew about the extent of the collection although his propensity to acquire film memorabilia was a well-known fact.

The collection was discovered in its full glory only after his death in 2006. The historian of early cinema, Anthony Slide has described it as the largest collection of its kind built by a private individual. Others have praised Leonard Schrader for the meticulous care with which he put together his collection showing a great sensitivity to historical nuance and aesthetic considerations.

Mr. Neville Tuli, Founder Chairman, Osian's Connoisseurs of Art says, "This is another important step in making India the knowledge center for the arts and cinema. Without acquiring such a collection, no great visual and textual library can be built for world-class research, attracting the finest scholars and creative minds to India."

David Weisman who has known and worked with Leonard Schrader for 28 years added, "Even though a number of museums had approached us, we decided to give this collection to Neville Tuli as he was the only one with the vision who understood its importance and wanted to keep the entire collection together".

Indian audiences will now be able to feast their eyes on a veritable carnival of colours, forms and figures that make up the liveliness of cinema in its earliest years. Beyond the beauty and creativeness of design that went into the publicity material, many here will be introduced to the careers of some of the legends of early film, many of whom are little known in India today.

Almost every important personality of early Euro-American cinema is represented here making the Leonard Collection an invaluable trove of knowledge about the history of film for our times. The collection's real pleasure lies in re-discovering the frontiers of cinema's childhood established by figures who were once well known (even in India) but have now been forgotten due to selective historical memory. The collection promises to transport us into a unique aesthetic and intellectual adventure with its mix of comedy, horror, action, suspense and romance in many shapes and forms and in many locations of the world. It promises a new engagement with the history of cinema in an unprecedented way, an engagement with the excitement that the medium has always brought into our lives and opened up our imaginations to the most fantastic futures.(npsinha@thesynergyonline.com)