Multi Screen Media to venture into film production
The parent company of Sony Entertainment Television Asia, Multi Screen Media has announced plans to venture into film production and distribution.
According to reports, the company is planning to co-produce films before delving into any independent projects. It has tied up with Eros International as part of a strategy to launch its film production subsidiary.
MSM will co-produce and co-invest Shashant Shah�۪s ‘Bhajathe Raho’ with Eros. The film currently under production is looking at a mid-year release. It will feature Tusshar Kapoor, Ranveer Shorey, Vinay Pathak, Ravi Kissen, Dolly Alhuwalia and others.
MSM CEO Man Jit Singh said that the film production business will be a separate line of business but housed under MSM. The film production business will be overseen by him and NP Singh initially, he added.
“We have been looking to enter the film production business in India for some time. We will produce a combination of big as well as medium budget films which are commercially successful at the box office,” Singh told Indiantelevision.com.
Without divulging details about the investment plan for the film production business, Singh said that the satellite rights of movies produced by MSM will be open for sale to any broadcaster and will not necessarily be aired on the company’s Hindi movie channel, Sony MAX.
MSM COO NP Singh added, “As a major Indian television network, we are very happy to enter into this agreement with a leading Indian studio like Eros to develop and release high quality original Indian content to fans of Indian cinema across the world.”
In 2007, Sony Pictures Entertainment entered into a film production and distribution deal with Eros.
Eros International Media MD Sunil Lulla said, “We are looking forward to the potential benefits that both entities will bring to the film with their combined strengths. By extending together our established networks to distribute Bhajathe Raho in India and international markets, we hope to give the film the best release platform.”
