Hindi
Mukta Arts to foray into plex biz, earmarks Rs 500 mn
MUMBAI: Subhash Ghai-promoted Mukta Arts has decided to enter the film exhibition business, a move that will complete its presence across the value chain as it strives to increase its revenues.
The film production and distribution company is planning to invest Rs 500 million towards the multiplex business over a 12-month period.
The multiplexes will operate under the brand name of Mukta Cinemas. The first four plexes will be located in Baroda, Ahmedabad, Bhopal and Vishakhapatnam.
“We are currently investing Rs 200 million in the multiplex business. We plan to pump in Rs 500 million within a year,” Mukta Arts executive director Parvez Farooqui tells Indiantelevision.com.
Mukta Arts will enter into a revenue-share arrangement with the mall owners, a model that will limit its funding requirement in a capital intensive sector.
“This will be the business model we will be following. We may take up some properties on rental basis but that is not our priority,” says Farooqui.
So when will the first multiplex be operational? “Our Baroda plex is almost ready and we are waiting for the licence. But with the cricket World Cup and the Indian Premier League (IPL) round the corner, we are deciding whether it will be better to launch in the first quarter of next fiscal. There will not be big movie releases during the cricket season. It is always better to launch a multiplex with a big movie,” says Farooqui.
Mukta Movies Distributors, the distribution unit of the company, already controls programming of 160 theatres across India which include multiplexes of Big Cinemas (All India excluding Tami Nadu), Inox, Fame, Fun, DT Cinemas, Wave, SRS Cinemas in North India and many others including a number of single screen theatres.
Will Mukta Arts hive off the film exhibition business and raise capital to fund its expansion?
“We will take a call after one year. If there is a requirement for higher capital, we may decide to raise funds. One of the routes could be by hiving off the film exhibition business and then capitalising it. But it is too early to take a call on this,” says Farooqui.
Mukta Arts has firmed up three big budget movies to be directed by Ghai, Priyadarshan and Abbas-Mastan.
“The budget has not been finalised as it will depend upon the star cast. But each will be upwards of Rs 250 million. The two movies, by Ghai and Priyadarshan, will release in FY’12. The Abbas-Mastan film could spill over to FY’13,” says Farooqui.
Hindi
Zee5 and Applause Entertainment team up for whodunnit ‘Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa’
Rajat Kapoor directs star-studded murder mystery streaming from 10 April.
MUMBAI: Zee5 is serving up another killer collaboration and this time, the murder mystery comes with a generous side of dark humour and family dysfunction. The streaming platform has partnered with Applause Entertainment and Mithya Talkies to bring Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa, a fresh, twisted whodunnit written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker and actor Rajat Kapoor. The film will stream exclusively on Hindi Zee5 from 10 April.
The movie reimagines the classic murder mystery genre with a contemporary, darkly comic edge. It revolves around a group of friends and family who smile, drink, and celebrate together until the silence snaps and long-buried secrets spill out. The stellar ensemble cast includes Vinay Pathak, Ranvir Shorey, Waluscha De Sousa, Saurabh Shukla, Chandrachoor Rai, Neil Bhoopalam, Koel Purie, Palomi Ghosh, and Rajat Kapoor himself.
This latest offering continues the successful partnership between Zee5 and Applause Entertainment, which has previously delivered diverse hits such as Mithya, Bloody Brothers, and Jab Khuli Kitaab.
&TV Business Head of hindi Zee5 and chief channel officer Kaveri Das said, “Our collaboration with Applause Entertainment has consistently delivered distinct, high-impact storytelling. Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa is a natural progression, reinforcing our focus on genre-led content with a compelling whodunnit premise and a strong ensemble cast.”
Applause Entertainment business head for movies Sunil Chainani added, “This film adds yet another compelling layer to our slate with Rajat Kapoor’s unmistakable voice.”
Rajat Kapoor shared, “What interested me was not just the mechanics of a whodunnit, but the emotional violence that precedes physical violence. These are people who smile at each other, but there’s so much that is not said.”
The film promises razor-sharp writing, layered performances, and simmering tension, inviting viewers not just to solve the crime but to unravel the complex relationships at its heart.
If you love a good murder mystery served with wit and emotional depth, Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa looks set to be your next addictive watch. Mark your calendars, the whodunnit drops on Hindi Zee5 from 10 April.
