Ashutosh Gowariker to direct English film on Buddha

MUMBAI (Reuters) - Indian telecom conglomerate Spice Group plans to focus on Asian themes in entertainment, and will set the ball rolling with an English-language film on Buddha to be directed by Ashutosh Gowariker.
New entity Spice Enfotainment will have a presence in film and TV production, broadcasting, music and gaming with an initial investment of 4 billion rupees ($81 million), chairman BK Modi said on Saturday.
Its first projects will be 'Buddha', to be directed by Gowariker ('Lagaan', 'Swades' and 'Jodhaa Akbar') and a commercial potboiler titled 'No Problem' in association with Anil Kapoor Productions to be directed by Anees Bazmee ('No Entry' and 'Welcome').
"Inspite of being an intrinsically Indian venture at heart, Spice Enfotainment will present the best of the Israel-to-Indonesia "brown" belt to the global audiences," Modi said.
It is looking at several movies coming out of India with Asian themes and actors, global language and technology, he said.
"Buddha", with a diverse cast and crew, is expected to go on the floor in May 2010 and be completed by the end of the year.
Spice follows in the heels of local firms UTV Motion Pictures and Reliance Entertainment that are looking beyond Indian shores for content and audiences.
Reliance, which has deals with more than half a dozen Hollywood production houses, also has a $1.5 billion deal with Steven Spielberg for a new studio to make films.
Meanwhile, Hollywood studios including Walt Disney, Sony Pictures, Fox, Viacom and Warner Brothers are looking for a bigger share of India's entertainment business, forecast to grow by more than 9 percent annually over the next five years.
The thumping success of Oscar winner "Slumdog Millionaire" has increased Hollywood's appetite for Indian themes and for co-productions with India, the world's most prolific movie industry.



Courtesy: reuters.com