Bollywood isn’t only about big production houses like Dharma Productions or Yash Raj Films. There are several others who are slowly and steadily trying to add value. Kalapi Nagada, founder, Cinekorn Entertainment, who is into distribution, digital content, regional film satellite rights, international distribution business, exhibition business and so on, is one such name. Recently, he got into production with Patel Ki Punjabi Shaadi. He now aims to acquire 100 screens across the country. But just increasing the number of screens isn’t going to help the film industry. There should be a good entertainment value for the film to generate better business, he believes.
After distributing Ajay Devgn multi-starrer Baadshaho pan India, his company has also acquired the Hindi remake rights for Tamil blockbuster Thani Oruvan (starring Arvind Swamy, Jayam Ravi and Nayantara), which will get into production soon. Here’s chatting up Nagada.
Why did you feel the need to buy screens across India?
Cinekorn Entertainment wants to spread its roots in every possible window of the entertainment business. We were already into distribution and now we have also ventured into production and wish to be in the forefront as far as theatrical exhibition is concerned, which is why we want to own screens across India. We first plan to buy single screens and gradually own multiplex screens thus achieving our target of more than 100 screens.
Do you feel that more number of screens can help the movie business?
More number of theatres or screens can definitely help in the growth of the film business, however, there also needs to be good content in films. There should be a good entertainment value for the film to generate better business.
You forayed into film production with Patel Ki Punjabi Shaadi. How much of your background from film distribution helped you as a producer?
Being a distributor, you always have to deal with producers, exhibitors and other employees of similar background and that somewhere helped me in a way when I turned producer.
How do you look at the growing number of Bollywood producers wanting to remake South Indian films?
The audience suddenly has found something new in South Indian films apart from the typical Bollywood movies, be it the picturisation, action, direction, VFX, comic timing, etc. Earlier, we used to acquire concepts from Hollywood films, now we officially acquire rights to remake South Indian films. South Indian directors and producers also acquire rights to remake Hindi films. However, the number of Bollywood films being made is much more and hence there is a larger demand for scripts and remaking of South Indian films. If the content is good, there is a surety that people will like the film, which can be remade and presented by translating into the local language of that region with a local popular hero.
What are the certain areas that Cinekorn Entertainment is going to focus on in the coming years?
Cinekorn Entertainment is already a market leader in the business of film distribution in India and abroad. We have also begun with production of films in Bollywood and regional cinema with Patel Ki Punjabi Shaadi and Tula Kalnar Nahi. We are aiming to produce more regional films in different languages including Marathi, Gujarati and Bhojpuri, among others. We were already into content syndication in terms of satellite business and now plan to venture into exhibition. For our digital properties, we will be producing web series, short films and digital content too.
Do you feel that movie making is becoming a challenging job?
Movie making is and has always been a challenging job because a lot of manpower and time management is required. Creativity has to be at its peak. It’s a challenging and time consuming process in which many departments function together, from pre-production to production and finally post-production stage. There needs to be a level of coordination and involvement of every person from every department without which a film cannot be made.
