Reliance BIG Entertainment To Make 69 Films In Next Two Years

Reliance BIG Entertainment, the media and entertainment arm of the $75 billion Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, has declared that it would produce, distribute and co-produce 69 films in nine different languages over the next two years.

The company made the announcement at the ongoing Cannes Film Festival in France.

The films include those in association with India's leading production houses and Reliance’s own in-house films.

Amongst the important deals comprise -two film contracts with Vidhu Vinod Chopra that includes a mainstream English language film "Broken Horses", a six-film contract with Excel Entertainment promoted by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani comprising King Khan starrer "Don II".

In a declaration, Amit Khanna, chairman of Reliance BIG Entertainment said that the company also has a two-film deal with director Shyam Benegal, four film pact with Madhur Bhandarkar, three film agreement with Vivek Agnihotri and two film deal with Sudhir Mishra.

Mr. Khanna also stated that presently, Reliance ADA group owns 106 operating cinema screens and it is likely to go up to 400 by the end of the calender year 2009.

Earlier this year, the group entered the US exhibition market and has strengthened its film exhibition presence across India, Malaysia and Mauritius.

Out of the total films, those in post production stage are "Rock On", "Sarkar Raj", "Love Story 2050", "Pathshala", Tamil film "Yaavaram Nallam", "Hulla", "Summer 2007", Punjabi film "Mera Pind", "Shabri".

Films in production stage are "Luck By Chance","Daddy Cool", "Singh is King", "Sultan-the Warrior", "Dulha Mil Gaya", "Sikander" and animation film "Hey Krishna".