MUMBAI: This should spell good news for English film buffs. After having been off air for nearly five months, Star Movies will be back on air in Mumbai from Monday, 5 February.

The channel has submitted an application before the Mumbai High Court stating that it will only air films with a U or a U/A certificate. It might be recalled that archrival HBO had also been off air for some time. However it came back on air in November after submitting an application.

Star Entertainment India executive VP Ajay Vidyasagar stated, "We are happy that Star Movies is back on air in Mumbai. All the titles that will be showcased, have been cleared as per the rules of the High Court. We look forward to entertaining our viewers in the New Year with exciting properties and titles and sustain the excitement, further strengthening our position in the English movie entertainment category."

Star Movies' big event for this month is the 79th edition of the Oscar Awards which will air on 26 February 2007. This year there should be more interest than normal as Deepa Mehta's Water is competing in the foreign film category.

Before that on 18 February 2006 at 8 30 pm host Terence Yin presents the preview show Opening Night. It will have scenes from Dreamgirls which got eight oscar nominatiobns but surprisingly did not get a best picture nomination.

It is a story of loyalty, fame and betrayal that tracks the struggle of a music group of African Americans carrying their sound into mainstream America. The Broadway phenomenon has been made into a film with Oscar nominees Eddie Murphy, Jennifer Hudson and Oscar winner Jamie Foxx.

In addition to this, the channel will be premiering some big blockbusters like The Myth, Hotel Rwanda and Proof.