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MUMBAI: Zee Network's chairman Subhash Chandra has announced
its foray into Marathi feature films, by which the network
will provide the financial backing to produce, market and
distribute the movies in India and Internationally.
"After the making of the film, the responsibility of
its marketing, distribution, telecast etc (for Indian and
overseas territories) shall be the responsibility of the Zee
Group," added Chandra.
Zee executive vice president regional channels Nitin Vaidya
told Indiantelevision.com that the network will attempt
to raise the bar for financial investments in Marathi movies,
by about 50 per cent depending upon the content requirements
and production elements. The normal monies pumped in towards
Marathi films varies between Rs 50,000,000 - 60,000,000.
As a start up, the network has commissioned five production
houses, namely Mahesh Manjrekar's Ashvami Films, Gautam Joglekar's
SOC, Shrirang Godbole's Indian Magic Eye, Smita Talwalkar's
Asmita Chitra and Rakesh Sarang's Cams Club. In the next two
years, these producers are to present the network with 15 Marathi
films, three films each. Zee is also looking to tie-up with
other production houses for the same.
"With almost 60 -70 Marathi films produced this fiscal,
we saw the strength of this market and decided to develop
a business process to boost Marathi cinema," added Vaidya.
Chandra announced the latest Marathi film venture at the
8th Annual Parachute Jasmine Zee Gaurav Awards, where he also
announced the launch of Zee 24 Hours, the first dedicated
Marathi news channel.
The Zee Gaurav Awards recognizes excellence in the Marathi
film and theatre industry across 18 categories in films, 12
categories in commercial plays and five categories in experimental
plays.
This year in the films category Mission Champion bagged
six awards for the best film, direction, story, screenplay,
dialogue and child artist. In drama, Makdachya Hati Shampaign
won five awards for music, script, actor, director and best
drama, informs an official release.
Zee Marathi also felicitated legendary actor Dr Shreeram
Lagu and veteran music director Datta Davjekar for the lifetime
achievement award - Zee Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar. While the
Mee Marathi Award was given to Lage Raho Munnabhai
lyrist Swanand Kirkire by Bollywood's director Vidhu Vinod
Chopra.
The Zee Gaurav Awards will be telecast on Zee Marathi on
10 February at 7.30 pm.
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