MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) plans to invest Rs 600 million in producing and marketing a slate of Marathi and Bengali movies over two years.

The company aims to roll out 15 Marathi films during this period. The first to roll out has been Sade Made Teen which has grossed Rs 45 million at the box office.

"We will be putting in Rs 300 million for producing, promoting and distributing these Marathi films. The next film, De Dhakka, is set for May release," a source in the company says.

Mahesh Manjrekar's Ashwani Films is doing De Dhakka. Zeel has also tied up with Smita Talwalkar's Ashmita Films and Bulbule's Indian Magic Eye.

Zeel will also be investing Rs 300 million for a production pipeline of around 15 films in Bengali. Two are already on the floors and will be released this year, the source says.

Earlier Zeel director regional channels Nitin Vaidya had told Indiantelevision.com that the company would be spending close to Rs 10 million for each Marathi film while in Bengali the costs would be marginally higher.

"The production costs, meanwhile, have gone up. Besides, we will be investing substantially on promotion and distribution of these movies," the source says.

After theatrical release, the Marathi movies will be aired on Zee Talkies. Zee launched the Marathi movie channel on 25 August 2007.

Zee is also planning to launch a Bengali movie channel.