MUMBAI: Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan is leaving no stone unturned to promote his upcoming superhero film Ra.One.

To add to the long list of pre-release associations and to reach out to the young and youth audiences, SRK has now launched the social game based on the movie, in association with UTV Indiagames. UTV Indiagames CEO Vishal Gondal said, "The amazing statistic is that 50 per cent of all users on social networking platforms play games.

So when we associated with Red Chillies to create a game around Ra.One, we decided to make a social game out of the character! The game has the potential to have a global appeal and we hope the sheer power and reach of social gaming will enable us to build a massive gaming franchise appeal, appealing to everyone across the country as well as increase the base of gamers in India."

UTV Indiagames is the exclusive partner of SRK?s company Red Chillies Entertainment, to develop and publish the cross-platform social game on mobile, online and TV.

With an aim to build on the franchise, the game will be episodic in nature, introducing new levels and a story that will keep progressing with the game.

Also, the game will be micro transaction enabled so that users can customise their own game experience.Reaching out to a wider section of casual gamers, the game is designed to simply ?pick up and play? with a theme that is attractive to global audiences.

Khan said, "With the many strategic firsts that Ra.One is bringing to the country, the first ever superhero social game on the most powerful medium today takes it to a whole new level. The game has been specially conceptualised to ensure that it reaches out to all the audiences that are eagerly awaiting to catch a glimpse of the superhero G.One. This is the perfect opportunity for gamers to get introduced and engage with G.One, understand his fantastic abilities and immerse themselves in the game and become superheroes!"

The game will be launched across all the popular social networks like Facebook along with gaming platforms like Nokia Ovi, Android and Apple. UTV Indiagames will also be launching a special version of the game for DTH subscribers.

MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Company proposes to take full control and delist UTV Software Communications with a Rs 20.13 billion offer to buy out the public shareholders and the founder-promoters.

The Walt Disney Company (Southest Asia) Pte is making an offer at a ceiling price of Rs 1000 per share for the remaining 49.56 per cent that will give the global media giant complete hold of UTV‘s movie making, television broadcasting and gaming businesses. This is 11 per cent above the previous day‘s closing share price of UTV.

The only entity where Disney will still have to share with a local partner is Indiagames, the online and mobile gaming company where UTV holds around 60 per cent stake. Disney may decide to sell UTV‘s stake in Indiagames, the company founded by Vishal Gondal. 

Ronnie Screwvala and his associates will reap a harvest of Rs 8.05 billion after exiting from the media company that they founded way back in 1990. They hold 8.053 million shares, or 19.82 per cent, of the company.

With Disney holding 20.497 million shares, or 50.44 per cent, of UTV Software Communications, the aggregate promoter holding stands at 70.26 per cent.

UTV is currently listed in Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India. 

Indiantelevision.com had earlier reported in June that Disney was planning to buy out UTV.

After the completion of the buyout, Screwvala will take charge as the managing director of The Walt Disney Company in India. He will be responsible for overseeing the Indian businesses of the companies owned and managed by the Disney Group.

Disney entered the Indian market late as a broadcaster in children‘s entertainment, pulled back by a deal that it had with Lalit Modi‘s company, Modi Entertainment Network. In 2006, Disney acquired a 15 per cent stake in UTV and kids channel Hungama for a combined investment of $44.5 million. Then it subsequently upped its stake progressively to 50.44 per cent, accumulating pieces of the broadcasting business that included youth channel UTV Bindass, Hindi movie channel UTV Movies, UTV Action and World Movies.

Shares of UTV closed Tuesday at Rs 950.45 on the BSE, up 5.39 per cent from its previous close.

"Disney will pump in investments and get more aggressive in the Indian market where it lags behind the other global media companies like News Corp (Star), Sony and Viacom which runs a joint venture with TV18 Group," says a media analyst.