News Broadcasting
UTV plans to launch US $25 million film fund in 2003
MUMBAI: With Indian filmdom, gradually getting a modicum of corporatisation, the coming year is going to see a gaggle of film funds to take it further up the professional path and bring clean money into it.
Multimedia firm UTV is aiming to be the front runner in film funds. It is planning the launch of a film fund in early 2003. The fund is in its final planning stages.
UTV Group CEO and Ronnie Screwvala claimed that the fund will have a targeted corpus of US$ 25 million. Initially, US$ 5 Million will be raised by the first quarter of 2003.
UTV officials claim that the fund is directed at those individuals and entities, who are looking at investing in the motion picture space in India. These prospective investors include high net worth individuals, in India and globally; VCC and private equity funds; overseas filmfunds and banking institutions and corporates making forays into the industry.
The fund will allow prospective investors, who are looking for transparency and a relatively de-risked model plus, to hedge their interests amongst multiple projects. The existing funds invite people to invest in a specific movie, rather than on a ‘project to project’ basis.
UTV officials also claim the fund will be the first fund of its kind because of its carefully designed structure; not as a private company attracting equity investment. It will also be registered with the relevant security and exchange bodies.
UTV, which began as a TV commercial and corporate film producer, has been building its core competencies in motion picture production over the past three to four years.
It has distributed close to 14 movies, and co-produced one movie in the past two and a half years. 11 of the 14 have been hits. These include titles like Lagaan, Sarfarosh, Mission Kashmir, Hera Pheri and many others.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Fury in the Gulf conclave on West Asia crisis
Three-hour summit to unpack geopolitical fallout and impact on India
MUMBAI: CNN-News18 is set to host a special three-hour broadcast, Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave, on April 7, aiming to decode the escalating West Asia crisis and its far-reaching implications for India.
Scheduled from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the conclave comes at a time when tensions between Iran and the United States are reshaping global geopolitics and triggering economic uncertainty. With India’s deep energy ties, trade links and large diaspora in the Gulf, the developments carry significant domestic relevance.
Built around the theme ‘Conflict, Consequences, and The Future,’ the programme will feature six curated sessions combining one-on-one interviews and panel discussions. The focus is to cut through the clutter and offer viewers a clearer understanding of the fast-evolving situation.
Key sessions include ‘Diplomacy in Times of War’ featuring Shashi Tharoor, and ‘World After the Iran Conflict’ with voices such as Ram Madhav, Reuven Azar, representatives from the European Union and the Iranian Deputy Envoy. Another session titled ‘Another Dunkirk?’ will bring together K. J. S. Dhillon and Jitin Prasada among others.
CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar said, “In times of war, clarity becomes the most powerful tool. Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave brings together credible voices to address the questions and confusion that arise amid an overwhelming influx of information.”
He added that the initiative is aimed at delivering “facts, perspective, and insight” at a time when misinformation can easily cloud public understanding.
Echoing the sentiment, CNN-News18 CEO– English and business news Smriti Mehra said the conflict marks a defining global moment, with consequences that extend well beyond the region. She noted that the conclave seeks to present the crisis with “depth, nuance and responsibility” so audiences can better grasp its real-world impact.
As geopolitical tensions continue to dominate headlines, the conclave positions itself as an attempt to bring order to the noise, offering viewers a structured, insight-led look at a complex and rapidly shifting global situation.
