MUMBAI: Encouraged by the performance of the Bengali film Anuranan in Kolkata, Shemaroo will release the Hindi version across the country on 18 January 2008.

The Bengali film, which ran for 100 days in Kolkata, is the directorial debut of Bengali filmmaker Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury. Anuranan is produced by Jeet Bannerjee, Indrani Mukerjee and the director. With stunning performances by Rahul Bose, Rituparna Sengupta, Raima Sen and Rajat Kapoor, Anuranan's success story is obvious.

Chowdhury is an ad filmmaker and has done wonders with brands like Coca-Cola, Nestle, Britannia, Lever Brothers, Hero Honda and Philips, among many others. The company says that his treatment and personal touch given to this piece of art are bound to strike a personal chord among audiences at many points of the film.

Shemaroo Entertainment director Hiren Gada says, "Anuranan has set a benchmark today among Bengali filmmakers. It has certainly touched the hearts of the Bengali masses, and is still fresh and lingering in people's minds. Since the movie got fantastic reviews, we decided to go ahead with Anuranan's Hindi version. Moreover, Anuranan's plot and cast are such that our Hindi audiences will certainly be able to connect to the same."

Chowdhury says, "My first film Anuranan has been like a breath of fresh air for me, after the umpteen ad films that I created. It feels great to know that the film did well and has been appreciated by audiences. After being acknowledged in the various festivals, both Shemaroo and Screenplay believes that it's time Anuranan got noticed nationally."