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MUMBAI:
UTV Motion Pictures is foraying into the South Indian film
space with a slate of film production and distribution deals
in the Telugu film industry.
It
has signed on Telugu actor Mahesh Babu for two productions,
the first of which will go on the floors within the next six
months.
In
addition, UTVM has signed a deal with Indira Productions,
to co-produce two films, one of which will star Mahesh Babu
in the lead role. It has also acquired the Andhra Pradesh
distribution rights for Atithi, starring Mahesh Babu
and Amrita Rao which releases in October 2007.
"After
our foray into the Tamil film industry with our first Tamil
production due for release in September, we are happy to be
making inroads into the Telegu film industry with these production,
distribution and artiste deals. Mahesh Babu is one of India's
foremost superstars and our association with him, as well
as our co-production venture with Indira Productions coupled
with our distribution acquisition of Atithi, gives
us a great launch pad in this very exciting market,"
says UTV Motion Pictures COO Siddharth Roy Kapur.
According
to estimates, Andhra Pradesh has 2700 theatres spread across
the state with Hyderabad alone having 150 theatres.
Indira
Productions' Manjula and Sanjay Cota said, "UTV has managed
to bring about a structured corporate approach to filmmaking
in the past 3-4 years. Initiatives like these have helped
the Hindi film industry get 'industry' status and the Telugu
film industry is sure to gain from UTV Motion Pictures' expertise
in this area."
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