Mumbai, 21st May, 2010: Reliance BIG Pictures and Rakesh Roshan’s `Kites’ has set new benchmarks in Bollywood’s box office history. The first day’s collection point to an all time high first weekend box office collections worldwide.
`Kites’ has opened in 2000 screens in India and 500 screens overseas making it the biggest Indian release so far. It is also the first film to play in 10,000 shows daily across Indian theatres.
Commenting on this Sanjeev Lamba, CEO, Reliance BIG Pictures says, “We are extremely delighted with the film’s initial response at the box office and expect the film to set new benchmark for Indian film business.”
Producer Rakesh Roshan adds, “I am overwhelmed by the response both in Indian and abroad.”
Hrithik Roshan remarks, “My Dad and I are extremely grateful to Reliance Big Pictures for the extraordinary release given to Kites worldwide and the tremendous love showered on the film by cinegoers.”
On 28th May, Brett Ratner’s version titled Kites: The Remix will also be released in 300 screens worldwide.
The international press has raved about the film. Some reviews below:
“Mr. Hrithik Roshan requires viewing uncut: writhing on the dance floor or just gazing into space, the man was made to drive women crazy, one movie at a time.”- New York Times
“A romantic adventure set in Las Vegas, the Southwest and rural Mexico, “Kites” has been given the no-holds Bollywood treatment by producer Rakesh Roshan and director Anurag Basu. The result is an exhilarating escapist entertainment that plays out like a violent and floridly poetic allegory.”- Los Angeles Times
“This is opera. This is the big stuff, folks. This is a choir, a drum machine, a synthesizer, a 17-piece orchestra and an echo chamber all screaming “Love! Love! Love!” Go in smirking, but by the time it’s over, you’ll believe.”-San Francisco Chronicle
“Hrithik Roshan anchors the film with a solid, believable performance and a palpable chemistry with his co-star that will remind audiences just how hot a good Bollywood romance can be.”- The Hollywood Reporter
“Deliriously entertaining.” – Variety
About Reliance Big Entertainment:
Reliance BIG Entertainment Ltd. (RBEL) is the flagship media and entertainment arm of India’s Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, with a significant presence in film entertainment (film production, distribution, and exhibition), broadcasting and new media ventures.
RBEL’s motion picture brand, Reliance BIG Pictures (www.reliancebigpictures.com) has built a impressive film production slate in Hindi, English & other Indian languages, which it markets and distributes worldwide. Following Reliance BIG Pictures’ association with IM Global, the company now benefits from an international sales team with an excellent reputation and global presence dedicated to selling its Bollywood and regional language slate.
In Hollywood, Reliance BIG Pictures has partnered with Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider on the formation of DreamWorks Studios and has development deals with Nicolas Cage’s Saturn Films, Jim Carrey’s JC 23 Entertainment, George Clooney’s Smokehouse Productions, Chris Columbus’ 1492 Pictures, Tom Hanks’ Playtone Productions, Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment, Jay Roach’s Everyman Pictures, Brett Ratner’s Rat Entertainment, Julia Roberts’ Red Om Films and Brian Gazer and Ron Howards’ Imagine Entertainment. RBEL’s group company, Reliance MediaWorks Limited (www.reliancemediaworks.com) is India’s largest film processing, exhibition and entertainment services company. It operates BIG Cinemas, India’s largest cinema chain with over 525 screens spread across India, US, Malaysia, Nepal and Netherlands. Reliance MediaWorks has a dominant and comprehensive presence in Film Services: Motion Picture Processing and DI; Visual Effects; Film Restoration and Image Enhancement; Animation; 2D to 3D Conversion; Digital Mastering: Studios and Equipment rentals with presence across at US, UK, Japan and India. Reliance MediaWorks’ television venture, BIG Synergy, is among the top players in the television programming industry.
The Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (www.relianceada.com) is amongst India’s top 3 business houses and has interests in telecommunications, energy, financial services, infrastructure and media and entertainment.