MUMBAI: Even before Chicago releases in theatres in India, Zee MGM has announced the acquisition of the satellite telecast rights of the acclaimed musical. The movie will air on the channel in November or December this year, says newly appointed Zee MGM business head Ashwini Yardi.
Nominated for 13 Oscars, Chicago will be billed as Zee MGM's Movie of the Year. 2003 seems poised to become a year of latest Hollywood hits for Zee MGM, as Yardi lists out the names of recent acquisitions to its film library, while refraining from putting a figure to the cost of acquiring the celluloid gems. George Clooney's latest Confessions of a dangerous mind, Steve Soderberg's Full Frontal starring Julia Roberts, Birthday Girl starring Nicole Kidman and Duplex with Drew Barrymore, which is yet to be released.
"The idea", says Yardi, "is not just to acquire Hollywood blockbusters, but genuinely good movies for our audience." The logic flows from Run Lola Run, which the channel acquired last year, a movie that was not Hollywood fare but a German film that become a runaway hit. "This year, we will focus on a mix of old classics, interspersed with latest films as well," explains Yardi.
Last year too, the channel mixed classic movies with new hits like Traffic, cashing in on a revamped channel ID and logo and some smart packaging. The channel has capitalised on the MGM library comprising of more than 4,000 titles including legendary series such as James Bond, Rocky, Pink Panther and Woody Allen movies. Some award winning titles, forming a part of the library, are Thelma and Louise, Moonstruck, Silence of the Lambs, RainMan, Fargo, Get Shorty and Dances with the Wolves.
Yardi intends to take the revamp strategy further. "Our attempt has always been to bring to our viewers the latest and the very best from Hollywood, last year we had brought highly acclaimed movies like Run Lola Run, Traffic and more. This year we have acquired the most prestigious and talked about blockbuster of the year Chicago. We will unfold the very best of our line-up this year to give our viewers some premium entertainment."
The list of movies acquired by Zee MGM -
1. Serendipity (Kate Beckinsale, John Cussack)
2. Everyone says I Love You (Julia Roberts, Drew Barrymore,Goldie Hawn )
3. Jacky Brown Directed by Quentin Tarantino (Samuel Jackson,Bridget Fonda )
4. Birthday Girl (Nicole Kidman Ben Chaplin)
5. Full Frontal directed by Steven Soderberg (Julia Roberts, David Duchovny)
6. The Cyder House Rules (Michael Caine ,Tobey McQuire)
7. Confessions of a dangerous mind ( Geprge Clooney and Julia Roberts )
8. Tadpole (Sigourney Weaver and John Ritter)
9. Duplex (Drew Barrymore and Ben Stiller)
