Hindi
Turner’s Jiggy George to take additional charge of theatrical venture
MUMBAI: Turner has announced two key appointments for its theatrical venture in India. Cartoon Network Enterprises executive director Jiggy George has been given additional charge to set up theatrical division which will leverage the power of Turner channels, consumer products and new media businesses to market these films effectively.
In addition, Chitra Subramaniam has been appointed as director features for the theatrical division and will work closely with George.
As head of the division, George will be responsible for all aspects of the theatrical business including production, marketing, distribution, licensing and merchandising and ancillary functions. He will develop the core resource team and formulate strategic partnerships with studios and distributors for the business venture.
Subramanium will be responsible for developing theatrical films on both animation and live action format. Her mandate will be to create a talent pool and manage co-production and marketing of the theatrical projects.
Earlier this year, Turner had announced that they will pump in multi-million dollars to establish a production unit which will make animated films for theatrical release and live action television series. The company will seek local production and development partners.
Turner International India VP and deputy general manager entertainment networks South Asia Monica Tata said, “Our theatrical venture is an extension of Cartoon Network and Pogo’s long standing vision to embed themselves into the lifestyle of Indian kids. By introducing content on the big screen into the mix, we now offer kids’ entertainment across another platform. We are very happy that Jiggy, with his rich industry experience, inspiring vision and relentless drive will lead this division catapulting Turner into the theatrical business.”
Giving an update on the business division, Tata further shared, “This venture is a key initiative in India and we are at the critical phase of laying its foundation. We are in the process of identifying the right projects, resources and are evaluating co-production options with studios.”
George will continue to drive the licensing and merchandising strategies for Cartoon Network and Pogo in India.
Prior to Turner, Subramanium was at the helm of film production business having worked with Studio 18 and Percept.
Hindi
Rashmika Mandanna, Shanaya Kapoor and Naila Grrewal climb IMDb’s Indian celebrity rankings
Upcoming films and returning shows are driving fan interest across Bollywood and streaming
MUMBAI: Bollywood’s popularity contest has a new weekly scorecard, and the numbers are telling. IMDb’s Popular Indian Celebrities list for this week places Shanaya Kapoor at number six, buoyed by buzz around her film Tu Yaa Main. Naila Grrewal slots in at seven on the back of the returning comedy series Maamla Legal Hai, while Rashmika Mandanna climbs to eighth, riding mounting anticipation for Cocktail 2.
The list, available exclusively on the IMDb app for Android and iOS, tracks trending Indian entertainers and filmmakers each week, drawing on data from more than 200m monthly visits to the platform worldwide.
Further down the rankings, Raaka is keeping two of its biggest names in the spotlight. Deepika Padukone holds 11th position, with Allu Arjun close behind at 13th, as the film continues to find traction with audiences.
The list offers fans a weekly pulse on who is breaking through, who is holding steady, and who is fading. It is a barometer as unsparing as the box office itself.
