Zee shelves movie production business

MUMBAI: Zee Telefilms Limited (ZTL) has shelved its movie production plans. Last year, the company had scrapped its film distribution deal with Rajshri Pictures after the eight movies that were channelised through the pipeline did not turn out profitable.

Nitin Keni, who has been looking after ZTL’s film operations in the capacity of Zee Telefilms Ltd Films Division CEO, has quit. Keni, who is currently pursuing independent projects including films and telefilms, is now associated with ZTL as a film consultant.
 

The focus will be now on television. “I personally feel, even if the board wishes to pursue films, there is a lot that needs to be done on the television side. The sky is the limit (as far as films are concerned), but the core business (TV) is not in place. I don’t think it is worth adding whole lot of other things to the kitty. Right now, I am concentrating on the core business,” ZTL CEO Pradeep Guha has said in an exclusive interview with indiantelevision.com.
 
 

Guha added that the company would go ahead with the Bhagmati project. “Bhagmati will be marketed. The sale is going on at the moment.”

As reported by indiantelevision.com, Zee Telefilms is finally unveiling the 2D animation-cum-live action film by mid-June. Zee has plans to tap the international market by going for a global release.

Speaking on the company’s experience with Gadar – Ek Prem Katha, Guha said the movie had failed to bring much money to the producer despite its box office success. ‘Yes, it was a great property, but didn’t bring too much money for us. Somewhere, we got the model wrong perhaps. But I am not ruling out cinema for ever.”