Entertainment - Warner Bros unveils slate of four Bollywood films

MUMBAI: Warner Bros is pumping up its movie business in India. In a fresh deal aimed at increasing the Bollywood slate, the company has inked a three-film production and distribution deal with People Tree Films, a production house set up by Mukesh Talreja (producer of Tere Naam) and Nikhil Advani (director of Kal Ho Na Ho).

Warner Bros Pictures India's pact is for the films titled Jaane Kahaa Se Aayi Hai, Chandbhai and Basra.

"We will not only co-produce the films but also distribute and market them in India and overseas," says a Warner Bros spokesperson.

Warner Bros has also signed a film with Vinay Pathak. The film, which is currently under production, casts Shah Rukh Khan as the lead protagonist.

Jaane Kahaa Se Aayi Hai, directed by Milap Milan Zaveri, stars Riteish Deshmukh, Jacqueline Fernandez and Ruslaan Mumtaz. A romantic comedy about a woman from Venus who crash-lands on earth looking for love, the film is slated for a 2009 summer release. The music of the film has been composed by Sajid & Wajid.

Chandbhai is Nikhil Advani's second directorial venture with Warner Bros. after Chandni Chowk to China. The film, which casts Akshay Khanna and Vidya Balan as the lead protagonists, tells the story of two characters who change their lives by facing their inner demons and embracing life and happiness in the process. Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy are the music directors of the film.

Directed by Navdeep Singh, Basra revolves around the lives of a spy and a cop. The film stars Akshaye Khanna as the central figure.

Says Talreja, "We are looking at releasing Jaane Kahaa Se Aayi Hai in the summer of 2009, Chandbhai during Diwali 2009 and Basra will hit the cinemas by 2009-end."



Warner Bros forayed into Bollywood film production with Saas bahu Aur Sensex. Chandni Chowk to China, a $12 million budget film which is slated for release on 16 January, is Warner Bros Pictures' second Bollywood film.

Earlier this year, Warner Bros Pictures India had inked a multi-movie deal with Soundarya Rajnikanth's Ocher Studios. The pact covered the production and distribution of South Indian language films to be released by Warner Bros.