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SET Pictures gets shot in arm with Oscar nomination for ‘Lagaan’
Sony Entertainment Television Pictures, which had bought the overseas distribution rights of Lagaan, can look forward to a boost in earnings with the Oscar nominations announced on Tuesday.
Lagaan has been nominated in the best foreign film category, and Sony and Columbia Tristar are set to reap the benefits of an Academy award nomination, which has come India’s way after a long time. Cashing in on the nomination, Columbia Pictures, the distribution arm of Sony Pictures Entertainment, has been roped in to handle the global re-release of the Aamir Khan starrer, this time in overseas territories where even white viewers dominate. The film, released on 15 June 2001, was initially distributed by Sony Entertainment Television Pictures only in countries with a sizeable Indian population.
The first venture of Sony Entertainment Television Pictures, a division of SET, was Mission Kashmir, released worldwide in a record breaking number of cinemas (at that time) around the world in December 2000 and was featured in the all time Top 20 overseas Bollywood grossers.
Lagaan is a saga of triumph of hope over power, set against the backdrop of the British Raj. In its first weekend itself, the critically-acclaimed Lagaan entered the American charts (crowded with summer mega-movies like Tomb Raider, Shrek and Pearl Harbor) at an impressive number 15.
Ironically, the Indian channel that reaps the benefits of an increased Indian interest in the Oscars award ceremony on 25 March will be Star Movies, which will be telecasting the function live.
Meanwhile, Viacom’s Nickelodeon has won a nomination for Best animated feature film of the year with Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius. Jimmy is Nickelodeon’s first 3-D, computer graphics imagery (CGI) animated character. This is the first time the channel has developed a product that covers the idiot box, the big screen and the online component simultaneously. The TV series and the film are likely to make an Asia premiere soon.
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Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat Premieres 14 Feb on Zee
Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat world TV premiere 14 Feb at 8pm passion meets politics.
MUMBAI: Cupid’s arrow just got a plot twist and it’s heading straight for your TV screen. This Valentine’s Day, Zee Cinema is turning up the heat with the world television premiere of Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat, a raw, rule-breaking romantic drama that proves love doesn’t always come wrapped in roses.
Set to air on Saturday, 14 February at 8pm, the film stars Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa, directed by Milap Zaveri. It dives headfirst into obsession, heartbreak, and the kind of unconditional love that leaves scorch marks. Rane plays Vikramaditya, a powerful politician whose all-consuming passion for actress Adaa spirals into chaos when his feelings go unreturned unleashing a storm of emotion, misunderstanding, and life-altering consequences.
The timing couldn’t be sharper. Audiences are clearly craving intense love stories over sugar-coated ones, and this film taps straight into that vein. Harshvardhan Rane already has a loyal fanbase from his cult hit Sanam Teri Kasam, which cemented his status as the go-to guy for heart-wrenching romance especially among younger viewers who keep the film on repeat.
Milap Zaveri captured the film’s beating heart, “This film is about love that doesn’t follow rules. With Valentine’s Day being a time when audiences gravitate towards romantic narratives, the television premiere of Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat on Zee Cinema felt like the perfect fit. The continued love for intense romances shows there is a strong emotional appetite for such stories.”
Rane himself called it a story rooted in messy, honest emotion, “Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat explores love in its most intense and vulnerable form where emotions are messy and deeply human. It’s a story that doesn’t shy away from passion or pain on Valentine’s Day making it even more special as it reflects the many shades of love people experience.”
Sonam Bajwa added her take, “Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat is not a conventional love story, it’s raw, intense and emotional. Valentine’s Day is usually associated with happy romance but this film explores love in its most vulnerable form.”
So if your Valentine’s plans include more than chocolates and clichés, tune in to Zee Cinema at 8pm on 14 February. Because sometimes the most unforgettable love stories aren’t the ones that end neatly, they’re the ones that leave you questioning just how far passion can push before everything changes.
