Viacom 18 Motion Pictures promises yet another Entertaining year for the Audience

Setting trends and exploring newer avenues with differentiated cinema, Viacom18 Motion Pictures has had a success run at the Box Office last year. From strong, script led films like Queen and Mary Kom to the record breaking performance with Transformers – Age of Extinction from their Hollywood slate, the studio has established phenomenal ROI on their films. Winning trophies at popular industry award functions year on year, their clean sweep at the recent Filmfare Awards for Queen for second year in a row after Bhaag Milkha’s sweep last year and Mary Kom featuring in best film nominations across is testimony to the content appealing, not only to the masses but to the critics as well. This multifaceted studio is all set to enthrall movie buffs this year with a diverse film slate, appealing to varied audiences.

VMP’s slate this year includes collaboration with Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Akshay Kumar in a new look in a massive action drama called Main Gabbar, hitting theatres on May 1st. The next big ticket stars Ajay Devgan in Nishikant Kamath directed Hindi remake of the highly acclaimed and box office trailblazer Drishaym wherein the same lead role been essayed by likes of Mohan lal, Venktesh and Kamal Hassan. The film is going on floors in March and will be releasing in September/October. On the Hollywood front, the studio will be hosting two epic franchises featuring two iconic superstars ─ Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator - Genisys and Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible 5.

While VMP has lined up some big ticket, marquee films – it will also be bring out some path breaking films like Margarita with a Straw that has already been creating ripples on the international circuit with its TIFF & NETPAC Best Asian Film Awards world premiere, BFI London European premiere, BIFF Asian premiere and Kalki winning the Best Actress at 18th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in Estonia. Furthermore, building upon the success of OMG – Oh My God, Dharam IN Sankat is a satirical drama with Paresh Rawal in the lead, along with veteran actors Anu Kapoor and Naseeruddin Shah.

Building an Indian franchise, the battle of sexes will continue in Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2, a cult film that rocked the youth with its first edition. Catering to the youth as well as the family audiences, the studio’s next offering is Ramesh Sippy’s Shimla Mirchi that marks his directorial comeback after a 15-year hiatus with the legendary Hema Malini in addition to Rajkumar Rao and Rakul Preet. Lastly, the studio will also bring out the story of the Mountain Man – Manjhi starring Nawazuddin Siddique in the lead directed by Ketan Mehta.

Elaborating on the same, Ajit Andhare – COO, Viacom18 Motion Pictures said, “VMP’s choice of films are centered around content that the new India wants to watch. This studio has consistently produced films that are shaping the new age Indian Cinema whether it was Kahaani & Gangs of Wasseypur in the past or films like Bhaag Milkha, Madras Café, Queen and Mary Kom recently. These films have found box office success and also emerged as winners in best film category across various awards. As a studio we are constantly looking to define and shape a new mainstream that does not see box office success and acclaim as two different goalposts but one seamless outcome, our films in 2014 demonstrated this (Queen & Mary Kom) and our slate for 2015 further builds on that approach.”

With their unique narratives, powerful characters, and widely acclaimed marketing & distribution acumen, the studio has indeed paved the way for differentiated cinema.