SACHIN TENDULKAR OPENS A NEW INNINGS IN ANIMATED TV SERIES ‘MASTER BLASTERS’CO-PRODUCED BY SHEMAROO & MOONSCOOP

in this Action, Comedy & Spirited Adventure series, Sachin mentors a Team of young & Aspiring Cricketers Around the Globe into a winning combination

Mumbai, India, April 09–The 'God of Cricket' is marking a new innings in his illustrious career with his television debut in an animated avatar! Sachin Tendulkar, the world’s greatest cricket superstar, is all set to star in a 3D CGI action, comedy and adventure animation series, Master Blasters, co-produced by Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd. and Moonscoop LLC. This first-of-its-kind international co-production deal featuring the global cricketing icon was announced by Smita Maroo, VP of Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd. and Mike Young, CEO of Moonscoop LLC. This is the first time that an Indian cricketer or sportsperson will be seen in an animated avatar on World television - yet another first for the record-breaking Sachin Tendulkar.

“Master Blasters” Season One will comprise 26 episodes of 22 minutes each. In Master Blasters, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar is appointed by The Programme for International Training of Cricket Heroes (PITCH), to head a training camp for the finest young cricket talents from around the world.  While coaching and teaching the young hopefuls the finer points of the game, Sachin also mentors them to be grounded and unspoiled humanitarians. As ambassadors for the sport, the kids play a series of international, competitive matches in a futuristic, high-tech, spaceship-like cricket stadium that can actually fly and land anywhere in the world!  Meanwhile, another cricket camp headed by the envious cricket star Peter is secretly determined to have his team humiliate Sachin’s protégés – by any means necessary! High spirited and adventurous, Master Blasters, featuring the central character of Sachin, along with twelve kids and a dog, is animated with fun filled, 3D comedy action and best of all, cricket!

Smita Maroo, Vice President, Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd., said,“Shemaroo Entertainment is proud and privileged to present Living Legend Sachin Tendulkar as an animated character in his television debut series ‘Master Blasters’. Cricket runs in the blood of every Indian and working with an icon like Sachin Tendulkar is a dream come true. The fact that Shemaroo Entertainment is collaborating with world renowned Moonscoop for a co-production deal involving a super sportstar talent Sachin Tendulkar is testimony to our expertise and experience. We are confident that this highly entertaining series will be a great success in India and the cricket playing nations. We plan to introduce this unique format to non-cricketing countries as well.”

Sachin Tendulkar, the cricket legend, remarked “I have always been fascinated with the world of animation and have enjoyed watching it with my children. The challenge for the production team will be to ensure that some human values and learnings are imparted while continuing to entertain the viewers through the series. It will indeed be a different experience to see one’s own rendition on the animated screen, performing larger than life action much beyond the limitation of the real world!”

"With his incredible popularity in half the world where Cricket is a passion, Sachin's impact with the sport of Cricket and Master Blasters will break international boundaries in the same way as Football's Pele, Ice Hockey's Wayne Gretzky and Basketball's Michael Jordan," says Mike Young, CEO, Moonscoop.

This pioneering initiative by Shemaroo Entertainment and Moonscoop is a great opportunity for Indian and international brands to be associated with Sachin Tendulkar’s ‘Master Blasters’ series and reach out to kids, families and fans of all age groups. ‘Master Blasters’ Season One worldwide rights will be available at MIPTV, Cannes, in April 2013. 

The series is co-produced by Shemaroo Entertainment (UK) Pvt. Ltd., a 100% subsidiary of Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd., one of India’s foremost distributors and Moonscoop LLC.

About Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd

Celebrating the golden jubilee, Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd is among few entertainment companies that have hallmarked several pioneering efforts with its innovative and out- of-the- box thinking. Founded in 1962, Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd is one of the largest Filmed Entertainment “Content Houses” in the country, active in Content Ownership, Creation, Aggregationand Distributionwith a large content library of over 2500 titles.

Shemaroo is engaged in the distribution of contentfor satellite channels, physical formats and emerging digital technologies like the Mobile, Internet, Broadband, IPTV and DTH among others. With its partnership with the major telecom operators and other digital media platforms, Shemaroo is at the forefront of the digital age. The company has also tied up with many content providers across the country. The “Shemaroo” brand today is synonymous with quality entertainment in the Indian entertainment eco system.

About Moonscoop

Specializing in children’s entertainment, Moonscoop is an innovator, developer and producer of original animated television series, properties & brands which are implemented across all digital platforms of the media.  The company’s library contains over 3000 half-hours of programming airing in more than 160 territories worldwide.   Among Moonscoop’s key brands licensed in markets worldwide and produced by their talented animation production staff include: Code Lyoko, Chloe’s Closet™, Geronimo Stilton, Hero 108™, Tara Duncan and Casper’s Scare School. Moonscoop‘s current new series production slate includes: Code Lyoko Evolution, Sabrina Secrets of a Teenage Witch™, Chloe’s Closet -Season II, Jungle Book - Season II and Ava Riko Teo - Season II.  As a production company hired by outside content owners, Moonscoop has produced animated series for a number of high profile brands, such as Care Bears™, Lalaloopsy™,Strawberry Shortcake™ and Zhu Zhu Pets®.

Kabillion® and Kabillion Girls Rule™!™, a subsidiary of Moonscoop, is ranked Top 10 Kids Free On Demand TV Networks, reaching over 40 million US households and available on Comcast, Time Warner & Charter, among others.  Kabillion’s reach extends across their trans-media platforms including Kabillion TV Networks, Kabillion.com, KabillionGirlsRule.com, Yoursphere.com, Soccer.org&The Kabillion Youtube channel.

 

DESTINY – The Biggest Ghazal Album of 2013

Anoop Jalota recorded his part with his protege and his favourite Sumeet tappoo for the upcoming album "Destiny"which has pankaj udhas,anup jalota and talat aziz together with sumeet tapoo in one album which becomes a collector's piece .
The recording went in for couple of hours and Anup jalota said it was fun and a nice feeling to record with sumeet ,as he has been singing with me since he was 3 years old
Sumeet said "it a moment of pride and joy to sing along with your mentor and artiste of such great calibre "
HMV Saregama is about to release the biggest Ghazal album of 2013. And it will enthuse Ghazal lovers whose eyes and ears will light up when they come to know that for the first time ever, Anup Jalota, Pankaj Udhas, Talat Aziz, and a young singer fast making a name for himself in both Ghazals and Bollywood, Sumeet Tappoo, have come together to release an album of nine new Ghazals in their album, aptly titled, DESTINY.
The Ghazals featured in DESTINY have been written by Sri Ram Prakash Goel "Soz". The exquisite compositions by Anup Jalota and the soulful music arrangements by Bhavdeep Jaipurwale will be a real treat for Ghazal lovers.
For almost three decades, the three stalwarts Anup Jalota, Pankaj Udhas and Talat Aziz have been ruling the music world with their albums and performances. Their own respective fan bases are in the millions not only in India but worldwide. Therefore, an album featuring the three giants together, will make this album a super hit.
However, for Business Head Music Saregama India, Adarsh Gupta, it was important to add a fourth and crucial element of a fresh, young and new voice in amongst the legends.
"Contrary to what people believe, Ghazal still remains a popular form of music and the ardent Ghazal fans still listen to this art form despite the heavy predominance of Bollywood in today’s world. To do an album with these legends was therefore only natural. But we had to add in a young talent to reach out to the younger music lovers and the exceptionally talented Sumeet Tappoo has sung brilliantly in this album and his presence will mean that the target audience for this album will be across several generations" said Adarsh Gupta.
 The Fiji-born and now Mumbai–based Sumeet Tappoo, who has recently recorded for a Bollywood film, said he was ecstatic singing alongside Anup Jalota and also Pankaj Udhas & Talat Aziz who were his inspirations
. "In my days as a child in Fiji, my family and I were fans and admirers of Anup Ji, Pankaj Ji & Talat Ji. They have been my inspiration growing up. To have an opportunity to release an album with those you have looked up to all your life, is a dream come true" said Sumeet. Sumeet’s rise to success is slowly and surely gaining traction with a number of albums to his credit including a joint album alongside legendary singers Hariharan and Shankar Mahadevan. He has performed over 400 concerts in India and worldwide.
 DESTINY features two solos from each of the four singers as well as a unique Ghazal featuring all four singers together. The four standout tracks from the album, interestingly featuring one from each artist, are lyrically quite simple yet profound and musically beautiful. Anup Ji’s
"Aasmaan Mein Na Mujhe Itna Udao Yaaron" talks about the need for humility, simplicity and love that is needed in life. Pankaj Ji’s "Zindagi Ka Yahi Fasana Hai" emphasises the truth of birth and death. Talat Ji’s "Chaar Din Ka Yahi Fasana Hai" is a beautiful composition which talks of the journey of life and Sumeet’s "Tumne Diya Jo Daag", a deep soothing Ghazal which talks of despondent love.
 The album will be released in Mumbai soon.

Rana Daggubati gave his remuneration to Riyaz Gangji RG'S Cafe who fees street kids

Rana Daggubati specially flew from Hyderabad to shoot Libas Riyaz Gangji's summer campaign and donated all of his remuneration to Rg's cafe which feeds poor kids on streets everyday a joint initiative by Chairman Nishant Mahimtura and Reshma Gangji. Rana was quoted I love Libas and am an ardent Fan of Riyaz Gangji's cuts and am so humbled by the joint initiatives of Reshma n Riyaz Gangji towards the kids.Prasant Trivedi,photographer Pravin Talan and Nishant Mahimtura were busy talking as we heard about stores springing up in this season in Delhi ,Chennai and shops with shoppers stop.

“Chhota Bheem & the Throne of Bali”.

Brief Synopsis:

On an invitation from the King of Bali, Bheem & his friends head out to Bali to attend the crowning ceremony of their Prince. On their way, Raja Indraverma tells them about beautiful Bali, and the kids are super excited to visit this land of unlimited landscapes. But before they can reach Bali, the kingdom is captured by evil Rangda who also arrests the king & queen of Bali. However the little Crown Prince manages to escape and alliances with Bheem to take on Rangda, the evil witch who wants to rule Bali.

Rangda is a very powerful villain, and has Leyaks as her army who cause destruction and disease among the people and animals. Now, it is upto Bheem and his friends along with the Prince to take on, fight and defeat the evil witch.

Experience the never told before story with lot of fun gags, amazing visuals and soothing music in a theatre near you, this summer.

Releasing on May 3, 2013

TAREEF PE TAREEF: IT'S A 50 CR GROSS FOR JOLLY LLB!

Fox Star Studios’ first independent production, Jolly LLB directed by Subhash Kapoor, has managed to gross INR 50 cr at the box office world wide. With a domestic gross of 46.7 cr and 3.3 cr overseas, the film has been declared the biggest hit of 2013 so far by the trade. Made on a budget of INR 13.5 cr including PnA,the film went into profit from the first week of its release! Thanks to the audiences and the critics who gave it a thumbs up, Jolly LLB beat the competition from big ticket releases for three weeks in a row and is now set to enter the fourth week.

Post the release, Jolly LLB has been in news over its remake rights that are being sought by the film makers in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam , making it one of the very few films ever from the Hindi film industry, which will be remade in the South. A court room drama like never before, the film has also managed to gain tremendous response from the leading lights of the tinsel town with Amitabh Bachchan , Akshay Kumar, Arbaaz Khan, Juhi Chawla and host of others showering praise.

Vijay Singh, CEO, Fox Star Studios, India concludes: “ We at Fox Star Studios are in a celebratory mood thanks to the mighty success of Jolly LLB, which is our first full fledged production. With that, we have become the first international studio to deliver an independent clean hit in the Hindi film industry. Jolly LLB’s success has reinforced our belief that if there is great content, there will be audience. Keeping that in mind, FSS is gearing up for an exciting line up of films about which you will hear very soon.”

And so, for Jolly LLB, its Taareef pe Taareef pe Taareef… !