Movies
Warner Bros India forays into regional film production, sews deal with Soundarya Rajnikanth
MUMBAI: Warner Bros Pictures India is set to foray into regional film production. The Hollywood major has stitched an exclusive multi-movie deal with Soundarya Rajnikanth’s Ocher Studios to get a footprint across the four southern languages.
According to the terms of the deal, Warner Bros will be involved in funding the film projects. The pact covers the production and distribution of Live-Action South Indian language films to be released by Warner Bros.
Soundarya Rajnikant, the daughter of superstar Rajnikant, said that it is a great privilege for her company to associate with a world leader in the entertainment industry. “Ocher Studios has always strived towards achieving high standards in quality content creation, and with Warner’s expertise in the marketing and distribution space this association will definitely create an impact in the film industry,” she added.
While Warner Bros specializes in the creation, production, distribution, licensing and marketing of all forms of entertainment and their related businesses, Ocher Studios offers its services ranging from VFX, digital film lab, non-linear editing, CGI, and pre-production.
“We are thrilled with this opportunity to expand our local production business across all four southern languages by getting into a strategic alliance with Soundarya Rajnikant of Ocher Studios. As is our practice, we will work closely with our partners to impart our experiences and expertise in a collaborative way,” said EVP Warner Bros International Richard J Fox.
Added Warner Bros. Pictures India country head Blaise Fernandes: “We are excited and proud to be working with Soundarya Rajnikant who is extremely talented, has good insight into film making and knows the pulse of the southern market. Given Soundarya and Ocher Studios’ creative skills combined with our marketing and distribution network, this is a perfect synergy between the two companies to come together.”
International
Council of Europe to unveil new TV and streaming co-production convention
Series Mania Forum to host landmark signing to boost global TV collaboration
LILLE: The small screen is getting a big policy push. At this year’s Series Mania Forum in Lille, Alain Berset will take centre stage to chair the opening ceremony for a new international convention aimed at reshaping how television and streaming series are co-produced across borders.
Set for March 26 at the Théâtre Marie Curie in Lille Grand Palais, the signing marks the debut of the first legal framework dedicated specifically to the independent co-production of series. In an industry where stories travel faster than ever, the move aims to make collaboration smoother, fairer and more transparent.
Backed by the Council of Europe, the convention is designed to strengthen cultural ties, give independent producers a firmer footing, and bring greater clarity to deals in a rapidly evolving content landscape. With streaming platforms fuelling a surge in global storytelling, the timing feels deliberate.
Council of Europe secretary general Alain Berset, underscored the cultural heft of series today, noting how they carry voices and viewpoints across borders. He called on member states and countries beyond Europe to sign on, framing the initiative as a way to turn culture into a tool for cooperation and democratic exchange.
For Series Mania founder and general director Laurence Herszberg, hosting the signing is both symbolic and strategic. She described the convention as a step that could widen the range of stories reaching audiences, staying true to the forum’s long-standing mission of championing diverse storytelling.
The ceremony will unfold alongside the Lille Dialogues, a high-level summit that gathers policymakers and industry leaders to debate the future of Europe’s audiovisual sector. Berset is also set to deliver the opening address there, adding political weight to a week already rich in creative ambition.
In short, as screens multiply and borders blur, Europe is putting a framework in place to ensure that storytelling keeps pace, collaboratively and coherently.
