Film Production
Viacom18 Studios & Marflix onboard Black White Orange for exclusive merchandise licensing
Mumbai: Viacom18 Studios and Marflix’s ‘Fighter’ is one of the most anticipated films of 2024. Directed by Siddharth Anand, ‘Fighter’ marks a milestone as India’s first aerial action franchise. Starring superstars Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone, and Anil Kapoor, the film promises to deliver heart-pounding action sequences, captivating visuals, and an unforgettable cinematic experience. An ode to the valor of the Indian Air Force, the film will release on the eve of India’s 75th Republic Day on 25 January 2024.
Black White Orange, a leading licensing and brand solutions agency in India, has been appointed as the Licensing Partner by Viacom18 Studios for ‘Fighter.’ Known for its expertise in designing, curating and developing merchandise and licensing programs for entertainment properties, it will collaborate closely with the ‘Fighter’ Movie to bring a wide range of exclusive merchandise to fans and enthusiasts. From apparel and accessories to collectibles and memorabilia, this partnership aims to provide fans with an immersive experience beyond the big screen. The range will also be available on the D2C brand www.a47.in, a label that celebrates India & its achievements through official merch like ISRO, Indian Infantry, and our indigenous IAF aircraft LCA Tejas.
Commenting on the partnership, Viacom18 Studios COO Ajit Andhare said, “Fighter is a highly anticipated film that pushes boundaries as India’s first aerial action franchise, and we are excited to bring its captivating world to life beyond the screen. Viacom18 Studios is happy to partner with Black White Orange as the exclusive Licensing Partner for ‘Fighter’s’ merchandise line. Through a meticulously crafted collection of apparel and accessories, fans will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the thrilling universe of ‘Fighter’ and own exclusive items that pay homage to the valor of the Indian Air Force and the iconic characters of the film. We urge everyone to get ready to embark on this extraordinary journey with ‘Fighter’ and indulge in the excitement it brings!”
Expressing his thoughts on extending the “Fighter” experience beyond the big screen, Director Siddharth Anand shares, “We want to leave no stone unturned to make this experience a memorable one for our audience. Thus, Mamta Anand, the producer on ‘Fighter,’ was very keen on coming up with a merchandise line for our film ‘Fighter.’ She then planned with Viacom 18 to engage in an exciting collaboration with Black White Orange, who will now help us bring our envisioned ‘Fighter’ experience to life. With our unique merchandise line, fans will get a one-of-a-kind opportunity to truly immerse themselves in the world of ‘Fighter,’ celebrating the unwavering valor of the Indian Air Force.”
Black White Orange Brands Pvt. Ltd CEO & founder Bhavik Arora added, “Fighter is not just a film; it’s an experience that celebrates the Indian Air Force, and we are thrilled to have been entrusted by Viacom18 Studios to bring their vision to life on merchandise. Through our partnerships, BWO will create a high-quality and aspirational merchandise program that will allow fans to connect with the film on a deeper level. We are also excited to launch the ‘Fighter’ range on our own D2C platform, www.a47.in, a brand that celebrates the rich pop culture of India, and it will be great to see the ‘Fighter’ collection alongside our official merch for ISRO and units of the Indian Armed forces. With our expertise and commitment, we aim to deliver an exceptional experience for fans and further elevate the captivating world of ‘Fighter.’”
The goal of this collaboration with Black White Orange is to create an engaging and immersive brand experience for the fan base of all ages by exploring several licensing and retail partnerships across India.
Film Production
Arka Mediaworks onboards 88 Pictures as animation studio partner on ‘The Eternal War – Part 1’
Arka Mediaworks announces that 88 Pictures, the acclaimed animation and visual storytelling studio known for its cutting-edge CGI and cinematic artistry, is on board as the animation partner for the highly anticipated Baahubali: The Eternal War, a groundbreaking two-part 3D animated feature film set in the globally beloved Baahubali universe.
Baahubali: The Eternal War represents a bold new chapter in the Baahubali saga envisioned for national and international audiences and crafted with the ambition of delivering one of India’s most ambitious and globally benchmarked animation projects to date.
88 Pictures will execute the animation production, bringing to life the film’s richly detailed worlds, epic battle sequences, and larger-than-life characters with its signature blend of artistic vision, performance-driven animation, and advanced production pipelines. Working closely with the film’s creative leadership and technical partners, the studio aims to set new benchmarks in animation quality, cinematic storytelling, and global scalability.
This animated epic follows the successful re-release of Baahubali: The Epic (the combined theatrical version of the original live-action films) on 31 October 2025 across India and the USA. During the film’s interval, legendary creator and director S.S. Rajamouli (Baahubali 1 & 2, RRR) stunned audiences with a surprise teaser for The Eternal War – Part 1. The video immediately went viral, garnering widespread national and international acclaim across LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube for its ambitious visual style and scale.
Produced by Arka Mediaworks and led by co-founder and CEO Shobu Yarlagadda – producer of the iconic Baahubali duology, The Eternal War brings together fantastic storytelling and cutting-edge animation.. The film is directed and written by acclaimed animation filmmaker Ishan Shukla (Schirkoa: In Lies We Trust, Star Wars: Visions – “The Bandits of Golak”) and screenplay by Scott Mosier (The Grinch). Mihira Visual Labs, the studio co-founded by Yarlagadda anchors the film’s animation, visual development, and execution.
The partnership with 88 Pictures brings significant pedigree to the project; the studio is well-regarded for its work on high-profile international titles including DreamWorks’ series Trollhunters, the HBO Max original series Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai, Disney’s animated short An Almost Christmas Story to name a few.
Yarlagadda shared, “We are happy to onboard 88 Pictures as the animation studio partner for our prestigious and most expensive animated film from India. We believe that their expertise and capabilities will allow us to produce a first-of-its-kind, world-class animated feature film from India.”
88 Pictures founder & CEO Milind D. Shinde said, “Baahubali changed the way cinema is perceived and became a defining milestone that turned the tide for Indian live-action filmmaking. Expanding the franchise into an entirely new universe—at a never-seen, never-done scale—through an animated feature created in India for a global audience is set to redefine how the world views Indian animation. We are truly thrilled to be part of this landmark project and to bring it to life under the visionary direction of Ishan Shukla, guided by the experience and leadership of acclaimed producer Shobu Yarlagadda.”
Shukla expressed, “Eternal War requires a level of visual and emotional precision that can only come from teams who truly understand both craft and intent. Working with 88 Pictures, alongside Mihira Visual Labs, has been a deeply collaborative experience. This association brings together technical excellence and creative sensitivity, enabling us to translate an ambitious vision into a compelling cinematic reality.”
Baahubali: The Eternal War – Part 1 is scheduled for release in 2027
