MGM with Star Den joins in Indian television market

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc (MGM) will be launching the MGM channel in India, the world’s third largest cable market. Carriage of the MGM channel will be handled by Star Den Media Services Pvt Ltd (Star Den), the distribution joint venture between News Corp's Star India, the leading television Network in India, and Den Digital Entertainment Network, one of India's leading cable companies.

The announcement was made by Bruce Tuchman, Executive Vice-President, MGM Networks at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. Star Den will handle distribution of the MGM channel, wholly-owned by MGM, to cable platforms operating in a nation-wide cable market of over 70 million homes. This will significantly increase the reach of the MGM channel, which is currently available in India through Dish TV, the country’s largest direct-to-home satellite platform. In addition, the Star Den carriage agreement will also help the MGM channel secure carriage on new DTH and IPTV platforms that are emerging across the country.

In announcing the deal, Tuchman stated: “Being backed by Star India and Den is the ultimate seal of approval in the eyes of India’s cable operators, and we’re thrilled that we will be distributed as part of Star Den’s unrivaled bouquet of channel offerings. By working with Star Den, MGM will now have a compelling opportunity to extend and accelerate our channel’s reach throughout the widest possible audience in the large and burgeoning Indian television market.”
Commenting on the launch of MGM channel, Gurjeev Singh Kapoor, CEO of Star Den, stated: “MGM with its huge library of compelling Hollywood movies will bring a great value addition to the Star Den bouquet of channels and will indeed compliment the best of English programming it offers to viewers in the country.”

As one of the most powerful brand names in film entertainment, the 24-hour MGM channel offers film lovers in India round-the-clock movies from MGM’s celebrated 4,000 title library, the largest modern film library in the world. Highlights among the channel’s planned movie offerings in the coming year are Woody Allen’s Manhattan, Network, Carrie, A Passage To India, Midnight Cowboy, The Pink Panther Strikes Again, Mystic Pizza, Desperately Seeking Susan, and many others.

Ajith will be paired with Sameera Reddy - FOR Gautam Vasudev Menon Direction

With Aegan set for a Diwali release, Ajith will begin his next project on November 2. The yet-to-titled movie will be directed by Gautam Vasudev Menon and Ajith will be paired with Sameera Reddy.Shooting for this movie, which will be produced by Sivaji Films, is set to begin in Chennai and is expected to continue in Rameshwaram. Despite being an action movie, Ajith will not be a cop in this movie, which will be the first time Gautam teams up with Ajith. The movie will also bring together Gautam and Harris Jayaraj, whose streak of five movies with Gautam, was broken by Chennaiyil Oru Mazhaikalam, in which AR Rahman scores the music. The new project will have Nirav Shah as the cinematographer.Meanwhile, Gautam’s Vaaranam Aayiram is finally heading for an audio launch on September 24 at Sathyam Cinemas.

Priya Mani previews in Chennai

On Wednesday night (September 17), Priya Mani held a special show of her controversial Malayalam film Thirakkatha at the Four Frames for her close friends and family members.

In the film based on the life and romantic journey of the late yesteryear actress Srividya, Priyamani is brilliant. The film's writer and director Ranjit too was present for the show.

Kamal - Srividya romance is now a film!

Those who attended the show included Dhanush, Revathy, Seven Arts Vijayakumar and personalities from Malayalam film world. After the show, all the women were seen trying to hold back their tears as the film leaves a lump in your throat.

Revathy in her trade mark off-white salwar-kameez went and hugged Priyamani. Said Priya after the show: “I am extremely fortunate to have bagged this wonderful role at a time when heroines have nothing much to do in mainstream cinema. I am happy to balance my roles in commercial and off-beat films as I enjoy doing both”.

Priya Mani in an all-new gallery

Priyamani who has just completed a song shoot of her Bharath starrer Aarumugham in Hyderabad, flew down to attend the preview show.

Priya Mani pictures: