| Zee had decided to partner with Rajshri
Pictures for distribution of Hindi movies after box office hit Gadar
(its own production) failed to recover about Rs 500 million from
the system. Under the commercial agreement in December 2003, Zee was
to procure the rights for the theatrical distribution of Hindi movies.
Rajshri, which has 20 distribution offices covering more than 13,000
screens across India, would provide its network for exploitation.
"We lost money in each of the movies that we distributed,"
says Keni. Among the movies that were distributed through this chain
were Who Tera Naam Tha, Lakshya, Yuva and Kyon Ho Gaya
Na.
Zee, however, has fared better in overseas distribution. The company
is using its existing offices in the US, UK and South Africa to
go for a direct distribution model. So far, it has distributed just
one movie - Mujhse Shaadi Karogi. "We will continue
with our overseas distribution," says Keni.
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