Film Production
Q1-2016: Despite drop in QoQ revenue, B.A.G. Films TV segment operating profit flat
BENGALURU: B.A.G. Films and Media Limited (BAG Films) Television Broadcasting segment (TV segment) reported 20.6 per cent drop in segment revenue to Rs 20.69 crore (79.7 per cent of Total Income from Operations or TIO) in the quarter ended 30 June, 2015 (Q1-2016) as compared to the Rs 26.06 crore (82.8 per cent of TIO) in Q4-2015. The TV segment reported 9.5 per cent drop in revenue in the current quarter as compared to the Rs 22.85 crore (69.9 per cent of TIO) in the corresponding year ago quarter.
Note:(1) 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10 million = 1 crore
(2) All numbers in this report are consolidated unless stated otherwise
Despite the drop in operating revenue, BAG Films TV segment reported almost flat operating profit at Rs 8.08 crore in the sequential quarters Q4-2015 and Q1-2016. The segment’s operating profit in Q1-2016 however dropped 5.7 per cent as compared to the Rs 8.57 crore in Q1-2015.
BAG Films TIO in the current quarter at Rs 25.96 crore was 17.5 per cent lower than the Rs 31.46 crore in the immediate preceding quarter and was 20.6 per cent lower than the Rs 32.70 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter.
Let us look at the other numbers reported by BAG Films
BAG Films reported a lower loss of Rs 1 crore in the current quarter as compared to the loss of Rs 11.53 crore in Q4-2015, but the loss in the current quarter was higher than the Rs 0.67 crore in Q1-2015. The company’s simple EBIDTA calculated without including other income in the current quarter at Rs 6.06 crore (23.3 per cent margin) was 1.5 per cent lower than the Rs 6.15 crore (19.6 per cent of TIO) and was 12.2 per cent lower than the Rs 6.91 crore (21.1 per cent margin) in Q1-2015.
The company’s total expenditure in the current quarter at Rs 23.67 crore (91.2 per cent of TIO) was 38.3 per cent lower than the Rs 38.38 crore (122 per cent of TIO) in Q4-2015 and was 19.9 per cent lower than the Rs 29.54 crore (90.3 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2015.
Employee Cost in Q1-2016 at Rs 4.74 crore (18.2 per cent of TIO) was 11.8 per cent lower than the Rs 5.37 crore (17.1 per cent of TIO) in Q4-2015 but was 0.4 per cent more than the Rs 4.72 crore (14.4 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2015.
Segment Numbers
The five segments mentioned in the company’s financial results are: Audio-Visual Production (AVP); Movies: Leasing; FM Radio; and Television Broadcasting. While BAG Films Movies segment made no contribution to the company’s revenue or operating results in the current quarter, Q4-2015 or Q1-2015, TV Broadcasting segment numbers have already been mentioned above.
Audio Visual Production segment (AVP segment)
AVP segment reported 9.7 per cent growth in revenue in Q1-2016 at Rs 3.60 crore as compared to the Rs 3.28 crore in Q4-2015 and a growth of 34 per cent as compared to the Rs 2.69 crore in Q1-2015. The segment reported an operating profit of Rs 2.24 crore in Q1-2016 as compared to an operating loss of Rs 1.38 crore in the immediate trailing quarter and 14.4 per cent growth in operating profit in Q1-2016 as compared to the operating profit Rs 1.96 crore in Q1-2015.
Leasing segment
BAG Films Leasing segment reported a little more than one fourth (26.4 per cent) revenue in the current quarter at Rs 0.1 crore as compared to the Rs 0.38 crore in Q4-2015 and less than one seventh (16 per cent) the revenue of Rs 0.62 crore in Q1-2015. The segment reported an operating loss of Rs 0.93 crore in Q1-2016; and operating loss of Rs 3.14 crore in Q4-2015 and an operating loss of Rs 0.41 crore in Q1-2015.
FM Radio segment
BAG Films FM Radio segment reported a 9.5 per cent decline in revenue in Q1-2016 at Rs 1.58 crore as compared to the Rs 1.74 crore in Q4-2015, but a growth of 2.1 per cent as compared to the Rs 1.55 crore in Q1-2015. The company’s FM Radio segment reported an operating loss of Rs 0.24 crore in Q1-2016; an operating loss of Rs 2.05 crore in Q4-2015 and an operating loss of Rs 0.08 crore in Q1-2015.
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
