KITES slated for Diwali Release Mumbai, February 4: BIG Pictures, the Motion Pictures Brand of Reliance Big Entertainment, has acquired worldwide marketing & distribution rights of KITES, Filmkraft’s most ambitious project yet.
KITES commenced shooting in the US with a two month schedule in July 2008, during which the Unit shot in New Mexico, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Since third week of December, the Unit has been shooting in Mumbai for filming indoor scenes. Principal photography for KITES will end in March 2009.
KITES is a romantic thriller being directed by Anurag Basu. Apart from Hrithik Roshan, who plays the male lead in the film, KITES stars Mexican Actress Barbara Mori, Kangana Ranaut, Nick Brown and Kabir Bedi. The film will have music by Rajesh Roshan.
The film will be marketed and distributed worldwide by Reliance Big Entertainment, which will leverage the strengths of all of its Group Companies, engaged in the media & entertainment space to synergize benefits emanating through co-promotions, branding, joint promotions and 360 degrees marketing initiatives for the film. KITES is the biggest Indian film ever made. Slated for release in third quarter of 2009, it is targeted at both Indian as well as the world markets and hence, will earmark the widest release ever for an Indian film.
Commenting on the development, Rakesh Roshan, Chairman Filmkraft Productions (India) Pvt. Limited, said, We are very pleased to partner with Reliance Big Entertainment for the marketing and distribution of KITES. This is the biggest film to come out of India ever, and a film targeted at both Indian as well as world audiences. We believe that Reliance Big Entertainment will leverage its marketing machinery & distribution platforms to take this film to the widest possible audience the world over.
Rajesh Sawhney, President – Reliance Big Entertainment added, We are very proud of our association with Filmkraft, which is one of India’s leading production houses for the worldwide exploitation of KITES. It is India’s first international product offering and will have the widest ever release for an Indian film. Partnering with the visionary Producer-Director, Rakesh Roshan, is a landmark achievement in our endeavor to create India’s dominant filmed entertainment company.
About Filmkraft
Filmkraft Productions India Pvt. Ltd , India’s leading film production house, was started in 1977and has since produced 14 blockbusters of which 13 were directed and produced by Rakesh Roshan. Filmkraft also created India’s first Superhero on celluloid, Krrish after pioneering its Science Fiction prequel, Koi Mil Gaya. With Kites , FIlmKraft takes its first step into the International arena and has lined up an impressive crew of International talent including Mexican actress Barbara Mori, Hollywood action director Spiro and New York based choreographer Flexi.
About Reliance Big Entertainment
Reliance Big Entertainment Ltd. (RBEL) (www.rbe.co.in) is the flagship media and entertainment arm of Indian conglomerate, Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (R-ADAG), (www.relianceada.com) with significant presence in film entertainment (film production, distribution, and exhibition), broadcasting and new media ventures.
With investments over USD 1 billion in its Filmed Entertainment business RBEL’s motion picture brand BIG Pictures has built a formidable film production slate in Hindi, English & other Indian languages, which it markets & distributes worldwide. The slate has projects with leading production houses and marquee Indian directors like Vidhu Vinod Chopra, David Dhawan, Indra Kumar, Ravi Chopra, Farhan Akhtar, Sudhir Mishra. Shaji N. Karun, Shyam Benegal, Rituparno Ghosh, Buddhadev Dasgupta, M.S Sathyu & Amol Palekar,
On the Hollywood slate, BIG Pictures has development silos with Nicolas Cage’s Saturn Productions, Jim Carrey’s JC 23 Entertainment, George Clooney’s Smokehouse Productions, Chris Columbus’ 1492 Pictures, Tom Hank’s Playstone Productions, Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment and Jay Roache’s Everyman Pictures.