Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi: Biggest hit of 2008?

In what is being termed as the biggest hit of 2008, based on its first week box office collection, then Shah Rukh Khan starrer Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi has managed to collect about Rs 90 crores in its first 7 days, of which nearly half has come from the overseas markets. The movie has broken all records in terms of collection till now for any bollywood movie and which makes it the biggest blockbuster of the year 2008.

This exceeds earlier successful box office collections for the first 7 days, for films like Singh is Kinng (about Rs 48 crores), Race and Jodhaa Akbar (about Rs 45 crores each) released earlier this year. With Rab Ne, the Yash Raj banner has tasted success after a stint of commercially unsuccessful films like Tashan and Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic that were released earlier this year.

The total collections for Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi in India in its first week are around Rs. 42 crores net (i.e. gross collections of Rs. 70 crores). The total gross collections from overseas markets are over $4 Million (i.e. around Rs. 20 crores).

In the Middle East, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi has broken all previous records for first week collections, grossing just under $1.3 million. The previous highest grossing film in the Middle East was Dhoom: 2, which grossed approximately $1.86 million across its entire run. Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi is on course to break this all-time record going into its second week. Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi has also had a grand opening week across all overseas markets, including the UK, USA, Australia, Europe, Africa, and Asia, and features in the list of the highest grossers for the opening week in most of these territories.

But as per the latest reports from Yash Raj Banners, it is said that the movie has collected a whopping 120 crores worldwide till its running second week and which makes this movie the biggest hit of year 2008 till now. However, the film got a mixed reponse from both audience and critics but still managed to made huge profits in terms of finance.With the long Christmas and New Year weekends ahead, the collections are expected to get a major boost.

However this friday release Ghajini has also started very well in terms of collection and it is being speculated that this movie would break all records of bollywood in terms of collection in coming days and even the movie has already became the highest grosser in paid previews collection.It is being expected after the start, that movie will be able to manage a collection of Rs 70 crores in its first four days only. If its happens then really Ghajini will set new records in bollywood.

So we have to wait and watch whether the Shah Rukh Khan starrer Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi able to attract viewers towards theaters in this Christmas and New Year weekends and able to remain the biggest hit of the year 2008 along the blockbuster of all time or it loses its crown to Aamir Khan starrer Ghajini in coming days.

Compiled By: Saurav Chakraborty

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Moserbaer also acquired "Tahaan" & "Dil Kabaddi"

Latest happening in Home Video division is that Moserbaer has also acquired the home video rights of the movies "Tahaan" and "Dil Kabbaddi" along the 25 UTV movies. However much detail is not available right now about this films deals.So dont get shocked when you will see this two movies on Moserbaer Home Video within January along the six latest films DVD from UTV productions....

Tahaan

Tahaan was one of the critically acclaimed film of the year across many film festivals worldwide and which story revolves around a little kid and his donkey.
Its star cast includes Purav Bhandare, Anupam Kher, Rahul Bose, Rahul Khanna, Sana Shaikh, Sarika , Victor Banerji, Ankush Dubey & Dheirya Sonecha.

SYNOPSIS:

"Tahaan - A boy with a grenade" is a fable-like journey of the eponymous eight-year-old boy, whose life revolves around the pursuit to find real purpose in his little world. Tahaan (Purav Bhandare) lives with his grandfather (Victor Banerjee), his mother Haba (Sarika) and older sister Zoya (Sana Shaikh,) in the serene meadows of Kashmir. They all live in the hope that someday Tahaan's father, who's been missing for over three years, will return. The death of his grandfather leads the local moneylender Lalaji and his manager Kuka (Rahul Khanna) to take away the assets of the family, including their pet donkey Birbal, against repayment of a pending loan. Now, life for Tahaan, his mother and sister takes a turn towards rougher pastures. For Tahaan, bringing his favourite donkey Birbal back home becomes the sole purpose in life. After various efforts at money-making, Tahaan approaches Lalaji with the prospect of regaining his lost asset but is devastated to learn that an old man Subhan Darr (Anupam Kher) has bought Birbal and taken him across the mountains… the same mountains from where Tahaan's father never returned. But Tahaan sums up courage and chases after Subhan. The prophetic old man doesn't befriend Tahaan at first sight but slowly warms up to this energetic and determined soul whose love for Birbal is paramount. But at the end of the journey, Tahaan is further disheartened when Subhan gifts Birbal to his orphaned eight-year-old nephew, and even the long-time helper of Subhan called Zafar (Rahul Bose), cannot be of any assistance to poor Tahaan. On his way back home, Tahaan finally encounters a teenage lad Idrees, who convinces him that his efforts would never be sufficient to get Birbal back. Instead, he promises to get Birbal back for a favour. All Tahaan will have to do is carry a package across the mountains on his next journey. Seeing Tahaan's eagerness, Idrees hands him a grenade. He tells him that when the time is right he will be told what is to be done. Tahaan sets off on his second journey with Subhan and Zafar, the grenade and package tucked away under Birbal's saddle. What is the price that Tahaan will have to pay for Birbal? And how far will he go to save his only meaning in life? Tahaan is now at a crossroad where his ultimate decision would determine his fate… "Will he get Birbal back?"

Dil Kabaddi

Whereas Dil Kabaddi is an adult comedy movie which is from totally different genre as compare to Tahaan. And it mainly revolves around adult jokes that will tickle your bone and its story also revolves around two couples and there marriage along sex life. I have watched this movie in theater with my friends and trust me if your not watching it along your family members than you will really enjoy this film alot.

Its star cast includes Konkona Sen Sharma, Soha Ali Khan, Payal Rohatgi, Rahul Bose, Irfaan Khan and Rahul Khanna.

SYNOPSIS:

Caught in the web of Post-Marital boredom and the irresistible temptation of lurking out if the relationship for some fun, Dil Kabaddi tackles the journey of two modern day couples in urban India, Samit and Mita & Rishi and Simi.
While Samit is indeed proud of his philandering and thoroughly enjoys the adventure and experimentation, Mita is at receiving end of his adulterous ways. His pride along with her suffering defines their relationship. On the other hand, as Rishi tries really hard to walk that extra mile and get rid of his monogamy, Simi struggles to decide whether she is really cut out for something outside of marriage or not. His desperation coupled with her confusion, decide the dynamics of this relationship.
As the four saddle their Way on the marital marathon, they come across Kaya, who spices up the goings-on between Samit and Mita; Raga, who gives Rishi the motivation to take the next step; and Veer who ends up for a short stint with Mita, and becomes the sole reason for Simi’s confusion.
How the quartet handles these complex, sensitive matters of the heart, and how they solve the never ending quests which their hearts put them through, with some ending up with a broken heart, is essentially the crux of the plot of Dil Kabbadi.

Moserbaer will release both the movies on DVDs priced at Rs 99/- and VCDs of Rs 40/-. However this time i want that Moserbaer should include deleted scenes and other special features of this movie in its revised price DVDs. So that along a premium packed DVD at Rs 99/- we can also watch some special features in it.And i hope sooner we can watch such changes in Moserbaer's DVD's also like it did in case of packaging. I have purchased the DVDs of " A Wednesday" and "Mumbai Meri Jaan" and i was really very delighted after getting such premium packaging from Moserbaer, last such packaging was offered by Moserbaer in case of " Air Buddies" which was a Hollywood film.

Even this days Moserbaer is running a WINTER OFFER called as "BUY 4 & GET 1 DVD FREE " for its DVD customers, a person have to collect four coupons from this newly released DVDs at price range of Rs 99/- and on submission of this four coupons he can take home 1 free DVD of any new film included in the offer or say on which this offer is valid. The offer is valid till last week of January or till the company wants. Detailed information about this offer you can get from Moserbaer Home Video web page within few days.

The DVDs of movies on which this offer is valid are: A Wednesday, Mumbai Meri Jaan, Kismat Konnection, Welcome To Sajjanpur, Golmaal Returns, Tahaan, Dil Kabaddi, Fashion and Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!

Even there are some reports that indicates that Moserbaer has also acquired the Home Video rights of Sushant Singh & Rajat Kapoor starrer Handmade Film's " HULLA". Most probably this movie is also been included in the above mentioned offer.The movie released in India in September 2008. If its true then soon you can bring this film at your also since the movie was critically acclaimed in some media section however due to its low promotion, the movie was a complete disaster at Box- Office.

And even when i get know about this movie release and thought to watch it after seeing its good reviews, the movie was already pulled off from many multiplexes within its first week due to unavailability of audience for the film. So i was really waiting for this film to come on DVDs.

Along this i also want that Moserbaer should acquire the home video rights of "MAHARATHI" & Vinay Pathak starrer " OH, MY GOD".

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Moserbaer acquired UTV's home video library now

So finally its officially announced news that Moserbaer has acquired another Home Video company that is UTV. However till now it has only acquired the hindi catalogue of UTV Home Video which consists of 10 movies but UTV also contains many Hollywood titles of studios like Miramax and many World Movie titles which are recently acquired by UTV and are not part of this deal.This deal also doesnt include the rights of UTV's Jodhaa Akbar since this year only UTV has sold it to Big Home Video.

Along UTV's old hindi catalogue, Moserbaer has also acquired 15 new movies from UTV which consists of six recently released movies and rest 9 upcoming movies of UTV. It should be noted that Moserbaer has only acquired the domestic home video and rental rights of this films and not the international rights, and this rights are sold to Moserbaer for a period of next five years.According to some of the business dailies, the deal has been finally struck between this two companies for Rupees 25 crores for total 25 movies including both old and new movies from UTV. Even in some dailies it was reported that Moserbaer Entertainment has gained 2100 crores net profit* in its entertainment business this year.However it should be that this are all unconfirmed and unofficial news.

Along that UTV has also confirmed that both the companies are looking forward to sign a separate deal by early next year for its World Movie titles that UTV has recently acquired and also for its 30 Hollywood Titles of Miramax Studio like Sin City ,Hamlet Pulp Fiction,etc., whose rights are also with UTV at the moment. Right now Moserbaer is already selling some World Movie titles that it has acquired from Palador Pictures in its premium segment where the titles are priced for Rs 399/- per DVD.

The 10 movies which are now acquired by Moserbaer from UTV Home Video are: Aamir, Race, Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal, Life In A Metro, Hattrick, Blue Umbrella, Khosla Ka Ghosla, Chup Chup Ke, The Namesake (Unconfirmed till now), Main Meri Patni aur Woh and Swades.

The 6 recently released movies which will be now released by Moserbaer in Home Video market are: Kismat Konnection, Mumbai Meri Jaan, A Wednesday, Welcome to Sajjanpur, Fashion and last month release Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!. The home video of this movies will be released in the market by Moserbaer within Janaury end.The some of the underproduction movies of UTV whose rights are also been acquired by Moserbaer are: Dilli 6, Dev D, Kaminay, Main Aur Mrs Khanna, Yahoo, Kisaan, Johnny Mastana, Arjun,What's Your Rashee? and etc.

After this acquisation there is no doubt that Moserbaer has again increased its content and along that it will made a strong presence in the market by entering into the premium segment.As i already mentioned in my earlier posts that now Moserbaer has increased its DVD prices and now you will have to pay Rs 99/- for this upcoming movies instead of Rs 50/- which was the earlier price.And even there are reports that Golmaal Returns and all new upcoming movies on Moserbaer now onwards will be released in this new price point only.

Now only thing we have to see that whether Moserbaer will be able to main the quantity of sell it was achieving at Rs 50/- price point for DVDs at this new price points and whether it will add special features DVD in premium packs or not. However in its first offering " A Wednesday", its giving a free DVD of movie Shaurya but i worry whether this trick will work to attract the customers since everyone must have a copy of Shaurya due to the following two reasons:
1. Finest and one of the best & critically acclaimed film of this year.
2. Its DVDs are till now available on Moserbaer only at Rs 50/- price tag.


*(Note: Net Profit news was not announced officially from company)

Compiled By: Saurav Chakraborty

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Did Moserbaer acquired UTV home video library?

However am not sure till now but it was shocking when i saw some headlines on internet and along that some online shopping websites like "indiatimes.com" where they are taking pre-orders for Home Video of UTV movies like Kismat Konnection, Fashion, Mumbai Meri Jaan, Welcome to Sajjanpur and as on along that Golmaal Returns also (which rights are already acquired by Moserbaer and its officially announced also) under the banner name Moserbaer and at that same price point of Rs 40/- for VCDs and Rs 50/- for DVDs.

After that i searched whole net but yet i didnt find any official reports from any out of this companies regarding any such deal.So i hope within coming few days there would be some official reports and then i will write on this in detail.

But its also true and official according to a website "businessofcinema.com" that UTV was already in talk with various home video players for a complete sell out of its home video division - UTV Home Video. And the price that the company was seeking for its Hindi and English library is in the range of Rs 100 - 120 million (Rs 10 -12 crores).

And according to that website, the dealing was for UTV's home video catalogue which consist of more than 40 movies including the company's home productions like Race, Aamir,Swades, Khosla Ka Ghosla, Life... In A Metro, Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal etc and also Miramax movies like Pulp Fiction, Sin City, Hamlet etc. Also under negotiation is the future slate of 17 UTV Motion Pictures films from Kismat Konnection onwards, which released in July.

So its true that UTV was looking forward for selling its home video division and they will also give the rights of 14 movies from Kismat Konnection onwards to that company which will acquire its home video division.

But the question which is unsolved till now is that whether the complete acquisation of UTV home video division is done by Moserbaer or just Moserbaer acquired "Fashion", "Kismat Konnection", "Mumbai Meri Jaan" and other new outcomes from UTV or its just following the same pattern of marketing the UTV products on a sharing basis like it did for Sony BMG in past by selling there 14 movies which includes " Jannat" also. Even Moserbaer has tied up with Palador pictures in that pattern for selling of its world movies and currently Moserbaer is offering 50 World Movie title in the market from Palador's World Movie Library in premium segment at Rs 399/- for DVDs.

OR in this case itS just a mistake from online shopping websites.....

So there are many questions and sooner i will give details on this after i get some official knowledge regarding this outcome.

Airtel launches its DTH Service

Bharti Airtel, which is slated to launch its direct-to-home (DTH) service - Airtel Digital TV on 9th October 2008, will be doing it in Bollywood style.

While Bharti has unleashed its teaser campaign, full blown promotions will commence with Bollywood actors like Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Vidya Balan, R Madhavan, AR Rahman and cricketers like Gautam Gambhir and Zaheer Khan.

It may be recalled that Vidya Balan and R Madhavan have been featured in Airtel ads, whereas Rahman has given the signature tune for the mobile service provider. Incidentally Shah Rukh Khan, who is the brand ambassador of Airtel mobile, also happens to endorse a rival DTH serivce provider - DishTV and hence his involvement with Airtel Digital TV is unlikely.

The Airtel Digital TV teaser campaign has been doing its television rounds and was also in print today with the tagline - See you at home. Soon. The TV campaigns have been conceptulised by JWT and directed by Abhinay Deo of Ramesh Deo Productions. At the time of filing this story, Deo was not available for comment.

JWT is planning an aggressive ad campaign roll out for Airtel Digital TV keeping in mind overall strategic insights, creative thinking, customer focus and understanding and a 360 execution of the core creative thought through traditional and non-traditional mediums of communication.

Airtel Digital TV service will be available to customers through 21,000 retail points including Airtel Relationship Centres in 62 cities across the country. The service will launch with 175+ channels, the packages will start from Rs. 2499 for a six-month subscription in which the channel price band will range from Rs. 99 to Rs. 424.

Airtel digital TV will have the latest MPEG4 standard with DVB S2 technology, which translates into exceptional picture clarity and consistent high quality audio for the customer. This technology also enables delivery of more complex interactive content and is High Definition (HD) ready. Additionally, Airtel Digital TV uses 20 per cent larger dish antenna that offers better performance during rain.

Airtel's USP is that its services will work during cloudy weather and an universal remote for both the set top box and TV. The service is backed by a 24x7 customer care in eight languages and a team of 800 professionally trained service engineers. Airtel Digital TV also boasts of high set top box memory for new interactive applications such as iMatinee (cinema ticketbooking), iTravel (browse and book travel packages), iShop (tele-shopping), iCity (city information guide) and Widgets (stocks) along with eight screen iNews and iSports with 2/4 screens. Apart from this, other features such as Worldspace Radio content, new games every six weeks and on screen account meter are packaged with the Digital TV.

Airtel has to show difference in their product and services to stand strong amongst existing DTH segment players like Tata Sky, Zee Dish TV, Sun Direct DTH and Reliance Big TV. The DTH segment in India is slowly firing up and is leading to stiff competition for the local cable TV operators.

The Indian DTH market, which is poised to grow to about Rs 30 billion (Rs 3000 crores) over the next five years, recently saw the launch of Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group's (ADAG) BIG TV. The other players in the space are Tata Sky, DishTV, DD Direct and Sun Direct. Additionally, Videocon is also slated to launch its DTH service by month-end. While SRK endorses DishTV, Aamir Khan was recently appointed as the brand ambassador for Tata Sky.

Compiled By: Saurav Chakraborty

Tata Motors unveils NANO @ 1Lakh

Ratan Tata, chairman, Tata Motors, unveiled the people's car Nano at the New Delhi, 9th Auto Expo today.

The car would be commercially launched in the second half of 2008,expected to come in market by September, and would be produced at the Singur plant in West Bengal.

Speaking at the launch, Ratan Tata, said: "The car is powered by a 624cc, 30 bhp engine and will deliver mileage of about 20 kpl."

The standard variant (without AC) of Nano is priced at Rs 1 lakh($2500) for dealers excluding VAT and transportation. There will be two deluxe variants with AC and other luxurious features.Tata Motors has also planned to launch NANO's diesel variant in coming future.

"The car has already undergone full frontal collision tests and will soon be undergoing side impact tests this year. It will be Euro-IV compliant and will meet all emission norms till 2010", Tata said.

The car is 8% smaller in terms of length than the Maruti 800, but has
21% more room internally.

"A team of 500 designers and engineers worked for four years on the development of the car. Since we started the project four years back, there has been a steep increase in input cost, but a promise is a promise," Tata said after unveiling his pet project.

Besides India, the company plans to sell the car in Africa, Latin America and South East Asia.But Tata said it would focus on the home market for 2-3 years before considering exporting the Nano to countries in Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia.

The compact but curvy Nano stands in sharp contrast to the luxury Jaguar and Land Rover brands that Tata is negotiating to acquire from Ford Motor Co.

Global car makers -- initially skeptical that Tata could produce such a low-cost car -- are now scurrying to make their own versions to meet the needs of cost-conscious consumers in emerging economies such as China, India and Russia.

Ford this week said it would build a small car in India within two years, and the alliance of Nissan Motor and Renault, which has made a big success of its no-frills Logan sedan, plans a $3,000 car with Bajaj Auto.

Volkswagen, Toyota, Honda Motor and Fiat have also said they are looking at small cars for emerging markets where strong economic growth has made car ownership a reality for millions.

Compiled By: Saurav Chakraborty
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SET added more bollywood films to its movie library.....

Sony Entertainment Television (SET) Asia has recently bought the rights of five more movies from India’s leading production house Yash Raj Films.

It’s already common knowledge that Sony TV holds the rights of all movies from the Yash Raj movie library.Now it has been confirmed the channel will also be broadcasting the recently released movies ‘Tara Rum Pum’ ,‘Jhoom Barabar Jhoom’, ‘Chak De India’ and ‘Laga Chunri Mein Daag’. Further good news for Madhuri Dixit fans, the channel has picked up exclusive telecast rights of her comeback movie ‘Aaja Nachle’, which will release at cinemas later this month.


Earlier this year only SET has acquired a batch of 16 new films from Eros International for a reported Rs 850 million (Rs 85 crores).

The acquisition included films like ‘Salaam-E-Ishq’,last year’s mammoth hit ‘Lage Raho Munnabhai’,‘Namastey London’, ‘Eklavya - The Royal Guard’, ‘Partner’, ‘No Smoking’, ‘Cheeni Kum’, ‘Gandhi- My Father’, ‘Provoked’ (Hindi version), ‘Nanhe Jaisalmer’, ‘Buddha Mar Gaya’, ‘Chess - A Game Plan’, ‘Friends Forever’, ‘Mr Black Mr White’, ‘Mr Hot Mr Kool’ and ‘Aur Pappu Paas Ho Gaya’.

Sony will enjoy exclusive global satellite broadcasting rights to the original version of these titles for a period of five years.

Even last year Sony has acquired satellite rights of many blockbusters of that year which includes the exclusive satellite rights of Fanaa, Dhoom:2 and Kabul Express(taken from Yash Raj Films for around 25 to 30 crores),Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna (Rs 14 Crores),Golmaal,Omkara,Jaan-E-Maan,36 China Town, Shaadi Se Pehle, Humko Deewana Kar Gaye, Kalyug, Tom, Dick & Harry, Ahista Ahista, Woh Lamhe, Anthony Kaun Hai?, Jai Santoshi Maa, The Killer, 15 Park Avenue, Being Cyrus, Naksha and Shaadi Karke Phas Gaya Yaar.

So after seeing such big deals from SET its look like Sony has totally decided to keep its 1st position undisturbed for its movie channel SET Max, from its rivals and tough competitors Zee Cinema and Star Gold.

In November(this month only) catch the World TV Premiere of "Good Boy Bad Boy" starring Emhraan Hashmi and Tusshar Kapoor on SET Max,its also one of the new acquisation of SET that has been taken from Mukta Arts this year only.

This year only SET Max has picked up first position in Hindi Movie channel segment leaving behind Zee Cinema at second position .Whereas Star Gold is still in third position, even after acquisition and exclusive world tv premieres of movies like Krrish,Don,Bhagam Bhaag and Rang De Basanti.However Sahara's FILMY is at fourth place with very lower viewership.

Lets see what is going to happen in this segment with upcoming new hindi movie channels from NDTV, UTV, Reliance and INX media group.It looks that competition will be going too much severe in the future for the exclusive satellite rights of bollywood movies...

Compiled and written by: Saurav Chakraborty
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Sony back in cricket telecast game....

Set India CEO Kunal Dasgupta is back to doing what he loves even more than the movies – playing the cricket broadcast game. The man who blindsided ESS in 2002 with an audacious $ 208 million sweep on seven-year ICC rights for the Indian subcontinent, that too when News Corp owned the global rights, has made a fresh cricket play.

Set India has secured New Zealand cricket telecast rights for the next four years. Sony’s winning bid: $ 50 million.

That makes three boards – England, Australia (both with ESPN Star Sports) and New Zealand – where telecast rights have been secured for the next four-five years. Which leaves Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies, South Africa and Zimbabwe that remain to be locked into long term deals.

Queried as to whether Sony would be bidding for any of these boards as and when they opened up, Dasgupta replied in the affirmative. That’s not all. The way the ongoing Twenty20 World Cup has caught the fancy of viewers has got the portly Set India CEO more than interested. “We will also be bidding for the BCCI’s Indian Premier League and the Champions Twenty20 League,” Dasgupta asserts.

The Indian Premier League (IPL), structured as a franchisee-based Twenty20 Series, is scheduled to kick off in April 2008. The final leg of the competition, which will be run by the four cricket boards of India, England, Australia and South Africa, is called ‘Champions Twenty20 League’ and will be held in October 2008.

Sony’s acquisition of the New Zealand cricket rights harks back to what the broadcaster did in the late ’90s, wherein it had the rights to Sri Lanka cricket. It may also be recalled that when Max launched as a cricket and movies channel in 1999, it had the Sharjah rights as its key cricketing property.

Source: Indianpad.com
Compiled by:Saurav Chakraborty

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SRK flick bags Rs 75crore..

For over two months, big boys of showbiz have been bidding for the worldwide rights of Shah Rukh Khan’s home-production Om Shanti Om. While one of the Bollywood trade papers pitched the deal at Rs 80 crore, sceptics scoffed the speculation because it was an unheard of amount for a Bollywood film. Buzz is the deal — largest for worldwide rights — for Om Shanti Om finally closed in the last couple of days.Even earlier its heard that Adlabs has acquired all rights of Om Shanti Om in Rs 85 Crore.

It is learnt Kishore Lulla's Eros International, listed on AIM — junior LSE, has bagged the worldwide rights for the Khan flick for Rs 72-75 crore. Sunil Lulla of Eros said, "I will be in a position to talk to you about the deal only next week." But insiders say the deal has been signed, sealed and is waiting to be delivered.

Acquiring the worldwide rights of a Bollywood film is the latest innovation in showbiz deals.Since companies like Adlabs Films, Eros, UTV, Studio 18 and T Series are flushed with funds, it has become easier for them to shell out astronomical sums to acquire the worldwide rights of a film.Studio 18 recently acquired the worldwide distribution rights of Mahesh Bhatt's Awarapan.Now producers prefer to sell worldwide rights to a single party because it saves them the bother of dealing with a network of distributors.

One of the earliest examples of the acquisition of consolidated distribution rights started with Yash Raj Films taking over Mangal Panday —The Rising. Next, UTV took over the WWR of Taxi 9211 from Adlabs and Ramesh Sippy Entertainment.

Vipul Shah, whose Namastey London was acquired for global distribution by Eros, feels selling worldwide rights makes good business sense.

Compiled by: Saurav Chakraborty
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Biodiesel for India: When do we get it finally?

Biodiesel is in. IndianOil Corporation (IOC) has already started measures to go in from commercial production of bio-diesel, with the state-owned refiner-marketer seeking 30,000 hectares of land from the Madhya Pradesh government for its jatropha plantation.

An IOC official said that the company was keen on its jatropha plantation and is awaiting MP government’s response in this regard. Going green seems to be the in thing - not to mention where the big bucks are - and the jatropha seed has been identified as the main source of making biodiesel. IndianOil Corp is in fact in discussions with other states such as Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan for land to start plantations.

Biodiesel is made by blending oil extracted from seeds like jatropha with diesel refined from crude oil. Jatropha is seen as a plant that has all in it to provide India with a socially and ecologically sound option for increased fuel consumption. The positive aspects about the plant are that it can grow in wastelands; yields four times as much fuel per hectare as soybean; yields ten times as much fuel per hectare as corn; a single hectare can produce 1,892 litres of fuel and converting the plant oil to clean fuel requires only one step.

The IndianOil Corporation estimates that India would need an annual demand of 2 million tonnes of biodiesel, with a 5 per cent blending ratio. This figure can even go up to 10 per cent without making any modification in the engine, indicating an annual consumption potential of four million tonnes.

IOC’s efforts at promoting biodiesel come at a time when there is an urgent need for increasing energy security. Related benefits of biodiesel and other eco-friendly fuels are protecting the environment, creating jobs for rural folk and develop wastelands. The move towards jatropha plantation by IOC can be seen as a welcome step in this direction.

Meanwhile, reports said that IndianOil has already completed field trials with the bio fuel. IOC’s trial with Haryana Roadways showed a 10-15 per cent reduction in emission from the 40-odd buses that used bio-diesel.

With the bio-diesel fever catching up, Tata Motors and Indian Railways have also conducted trials running locos hauling high-speed Shatabdi and Jan Shatabdi trains.

However, there are a couple of hitches too. The government’s biodiesel plan may come unstuck due to the government's policy on procurement price. The government has set a procurement price of Rs 26.50 for each litre of biodiesel, whereas each litre made out of imported crude palm oil costs Rs 35-40. Besides, the jatropha plants allow oil extraction from seeds only after three years.

It has been reported that the IOC is trying to use this time to put in place an integrated plan for the entire value chain of biodiesel — from plantation to blending and marketing. It now remains to be seen as to when the country is really ready for the green fuel that would be a boon in today’s times.

Compiled by:Saurav Chakraborty
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Idea, Spice talk merger

A major consolidation in the telecom sector could be on the cards. Discussions have just begun between Spice Telecom and Idea Cellular for a possible merger, whose outcome can go either way.

According to top sources, the option of both Spice buying out Idea Cellular as well as the Birlas-owned Idea Cellular buying out Spice are being considered. However, with talks being in the preliminary stages, a source said it would take anywhere between 8 and 12 months before anything could be finalised.

Adding a new dimension, sources told ET that Telekom Malaysia, which holds 49% in Spice Telecom (the BK Modi group holds 51%) is keen to expand its footprint in India and make some acquisitions to expand Spice’s operations. This is because Spice, at present, is limited to just two telecom circles, Punjab and Karnataka, and its expansion plans in the rest of the country have been held up primarily on account of non-availability of spectrum in many key circles.

Last year, Telekom Malaysia had acquired 49% in Spice for $179 million (Rs 733 crore). In June 2005, Telekom Malaysia and Singapore Technologies Telemedia had opted out of the agreement for acquiring a 47.7% stake in Idea Cellular for about $390 million as the government did not clear the deal.

Asked about both possibilities (Idea buying Spice or vice-versa), a Spice executive said, “Idea is a bigger player in India, but the dimensions change when you consider that we have Telekom Malaysia with us, who have big ambitions. If anything were to happen, it will take a minimum of nine months and will be post- our initial public offer. It is inevitable that there has to be some merger or acquisition amongst the smaller players, which implies all permutations and combinations are possible. Finally, it will depend on who will bring more money to the table, and who wants to be a long-term player.”

On the other hand, sources said Idea Cellular, which has operations in 11 circles with just under 15 million subscribers, was actively looking at Spice as one of the companies it can acquire.

Idea Cellular is also planning to demerge its cellular infrastructure and float it as a separate entity. A top company executive said, “I can neither say yes nor no, and we do not comment on speculation.”

Against Idea’s nearly 15 million subscribers, Spice has just 2.8 million subscribers. While Idea is the sixth largest cellular operator after Airtel, Reliance Communications, BSNL, Hutchison Essar and Tata Teleservices, Spice is the eighth largest.

Idea and Spice jointly have a 10.5% market share in India’s 165-million-strong mobile telephony market. If the two were to combine, they would create the country’s fifth largest cellular company.


But these are still early days and it remains to be seen how much headway these merger talks make. Meanwhile, Spice Telecom will go ahead with its IPO. Last week, Spice Telecom received Sebi approval for its Rs 600-crore IPO. The Modis own 51% in Spice, with Telekom Malaysia holding the remaining 49%, but this will fall to about 41% and 29% after the IPO.

MCorp global chairman BK Modi had earlier told ET that Spice was in talks with Idea Cellular and Reliance Telecom (the GSM arm of Reliance Communications) for forging an “operational alliance”, which will offer the combined entity a pan-India footprint in the country. However, the operational tie-up is with regard to network sharing, roaming, international arrangements and handset bundling.

Source: timesnow.tv

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mGinger:Earn, money for reading sms

You can now make money by just receiving messages on your cellphone. A Bangalore company has offered to pay users to receive SMS advertisements.

Cellphone users once shunned SMS advertisements but mGinger has changed all that. It has turned the advertising cell phone into a source of income.

It's using permission-based marketing to turn SMS advertising into a lucrative proposition for users.

"What mGinger tries to do is it eliminates spam from your phone. But it does it in such a way that the ads that you do get on your phone turn into useable information," said mGinger CEO Chaitanya Nalla.

And it's simple too. All you need to do is log on to mGinger.com and register yourself with details of the kind of advertisements you want to receive.

Users get to choose the number of ads they want and when they would like to receive them.

The company will pay users 20 paise for each ad read and 10 paise per referral(get paid 10 paisa only when your referrals receive an ad.). And advertisers are excited.

"The day we launched, we got our first advertiser. So that tells us that this medium is powerful, and that advertisers are interested in such a medium," said Nalla.

The company has already run eight campaigns in different sectors, and talks are on with another 200 clients. The website, which started on April 19, has over three lakh registered users.

This may not be a money-spinner for you, but it still has users excited about the additional income. Particularly college students are looking at this as an additional source of pocket money and a reason to stay hooked to their cellphones.

You can register yourself also at given below link:
http://www.mginger.com/index.jsp?inviteId=40559


Source:Yahoo News
Compiled by: Saurav Chakraborty

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Jet signs deal for takeover of Air Sahara

Private carrier Jet Airways on 12th.April.2007, Thursday signed a renewed deal to take over competitor Air Sahara, after the offer received the sanction of a three-member arbitration panel here.

The deal was signed after the panel comprising British Judge Lord Stein and Supreme Court Justices S P Bharucha and Jeevan Reddy, vetted the draft proposal prepared by Jet and Sahara. The two then submitted a revised and final proposal to the three-member court-monitored committee, sources close to the development said.

The deal is understood to value Air Sahara at Rs 2,050 crore, of which Rs 600 crore is expected to be adjusted as arrears, interest and other liabilities.

Of the remaining Rs 1,450 crore, Jet has already paid Rs 500 crore as advance in lieu of the shares pledged by Sahara last year, which leaves Rs 950 crore to be paid in cash. Jet is believed to have insisted on a non-disclosure clause in the deal, despite Sahara expressing its reservations.

Pallabh Agarwal, executive director, Sahara Pariwar and the group's lawyer Jeffrey Gordon were present on behalf of Sahara when the deal was signed, while the other side was represented by senior counsel Harish Salve and Saroj Dutta, besides Jet Chairman Naresh Goyal.

Source:The Times of India
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Idea on NSE list

The National Stock Exchange said on Thursday that it would start futures and options trading in the shares of Idea Cellular Ltd. From March 9.The Shares of Idea will also list on March 9.

The company listed with a 14.7 per cent premium at Rs86.05 over its issue price on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).The Company will invest $2 billion in the next two years to fund its expansion plans.

On other side, The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has disallowed certain discriminatory tariffs implemented by Idea Cellular Ltd. (ICL) IN Delhi. These tariffs involved higher differential cal charges in respect of calls terminated in BSNL/MTNL networks viz-a-viz private GSM networks. The TRAI has asked Idea to discontinue the discriminatory tariff by applying the same lower call charges in respect of calls terminated in BSNL/MTNL networks.

Source: Reuters & Hindustan Times
Compiled By: Saurav Chakraborty

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Shell to share GAIL pipeline

Public sector gas utility GAIL(India) Limited and Indian arm of Anglo-Dutch Conglomerate Shell India have agreed to sharing of GAIL’s pipeline interconnectivity with Hazira terminal for gas supplies in the country. The two companies have initialed a broad framework of agreement for co-operation. This will help evacuation of regassified liquefied natural gas (R-LNG) from Shell’s Hazira terminal for supplies to GAIL’s customers.

As per the broad framework of the agreement, the two companies will now work out the modalities for transmission of R-LNG through GAIL’s pipeline, access of Shell’s regassification facility to GAIL, and long-term arrangements with regard to gas supply and distribution, according to a company release.

The framework emphasises the need for both companies to examine the complementary nature of their facilities and build cooperation around them for mutual benefit. The agreement has the potential to provide gas to GAIL for utilizing its transmission capacity while at the same time assisting Shell to evacuate its R-LNG.

GAIL owns and operates a network of around 6,000 km of natural gas high pressure trunk pipelines with a capacity to carry around 140 million metric standard cubic meters per day (MMSCMD) of natural gas across the country. Currently, it transmits about 84 MMSCMD of gas through the cross-country pipeline network.

Meanwhile, the pipeline tie in at Hazira has also been completed and gas-in into the pipeline is expected to commence shortly.


Source: HT Business
Compiled By: Saurav Chakraborty