Virgin Produced partners with Cinema Capital & Tantrik; enters India

Virgin  Produced announced that it has entered into a groundbreaking partnership with Cinema Capital Venture Fund and Tantrik Group to launch Virgin Produced India, a creative content company that will specifically cater to the youthful and fast-growing Hindi-speaking  population. Based  in  Mumbai,  Virgin  Produced  India  promises to be a game-changing addition to the thriving Indian  entertainment  industry, with  a  full  service  operation  that  will  develop, produce and distribute Bollywood films and remake Hollywood content for Indian audiences.

Virgin Produced, which was launched in 2010, quickly made a name for itself as an iconoclast in the film and  television industry with projects like 2011’s “Limitless” starring Bradley Cooper and Robert DeNiro. Most recently, the company’s groundbreaking music- infused safety video for Virgin America went viral, receiving  more  than  5  million  hits  on  YouTube.  Virgin  Produced  India  will  bring  this  unique  brand  of youthful and irreverent content, along with a socially driven marketing focus to the Indian market, where more than half the population is under the age of 25.

“For the last several years, Virgin Produced has started to change the Hollywood mindset by developing a new way of doing business,” remarked Jason Felts, Founder & CEO of Virgin Produced.  “We know how to reach a younger demographic.  And we are going to take our unique and successful business model and expand it in Bollywood and throughout India.”

Virgin Produced India will also serve as a place where Indian artists can develop content without creative restrictions. From its beginnings as a successful music label, the Virgin brand has long been known for its artist-oriented approach  to  the  production  process. This  new venture will leverage  the Virgin  brand  to attract India’s best creative talent and provide them with the tools to bring their most inspired work to Indian audiences.

Virgin  Produced  India  will  be  partnering  with  Tantrik  Group,  a  Los  Angeles  based  Media  and Entertainment  asset  management  firm  and  Cinema  Capital  Venture  Fund,  the biggest  movie  funding company  in India.   This alliance will  provide  Virgin  Produced with  the  resources  it  needs  to expand  its reach  and  make  its  Bollywood  operation  successful.    Cinema  Capital  India  has  been  responsible  for producing  and  distributing  some  of  Bollywood’s  most  successful  recent box  office  hits,  including  films such as Dabangg 2 (3rd highest earning Bollywood film of all-time at the domestic Box Office) and Krrish 3 (which is on target for record revenues at the domestic B.O, currently being declared a ‘Blockbuster’, and has so far earned over Rs 246 crore worldwide). 

Jas Mann, Managing  Director  and  Partner  at  Tantrik Group  and  Virgin  Produced India  stated,  “We  are delighted to partner with Virgin, one of the most recognized and respected lifestyle brands in the world, through  an  extension  of  one  of  its  most  exciting  brands,  Virgin  Produced,  a  company  that  from  its
inception has quickly garnered significant industry attention for the quality content it has been behind in the  US  market.  For  Virgin  Produced  India,  connecting  to  the  youth  of  India  is  the  most  significant partnership we can build.”

“We  are  excited  to  partner  with  Virgin  Produced  in  India,”  added  Samir  Gupta,  Managing  Director, Cinema  Capital India.  “With  our experience and extensive  network  in Indian entertainment and media businesses,  and  Virgin’s  knowledge  of  creative  content,  we  can  make  Virgin  Produced  India  a  huge
success.”

For years, the Virgin brand has been a popular one in the Hindi-speaking world.  Virgin Mobile and Virgin Atlantic have operated successfully in the region for years. Now those same consumers will be able to see Virgin products on their televisions and movie screens. Virgin Produced India will be perfectly positioned to tap into this enormous market with its new creative content offerings in Hindi, as well as remakes of popular Hollywood films and television programs.

“At Virgin, we try to infuse everything we do – whether it’s in the music, travel, or telecommunications industry – with  a  sense  of  entrepreneurialism,  innovation  and  fun,”  said  Richard  Branson,  Founder  of Virgin Group.  “Virgin Produced brought those qualities to the entertainment industry, and now with the launch of Virgin Produced India, we’re bringing them to one of the world’s youngest and fastest-growing audiences.”