Eros Intl to set up animation studio in India

Integrated media and entertainment company Eros International is planning to set up an animation studio in India.

Sources said their first project would be an animated film, Toonpur, with life characters to be played by actors Kajoy and Ajay Devgan. The film is believed to be in the conceptualisation stage, the source added. Eros International India President Sunil Lulla said, "Animation is certainly on our agenda but I cannot divulge details at this stage."

The global player, with presence across 50 countries, has been in the news for acquiring worldwide rights of films like Salaam-e-ishq, Eklavya: The Royal Guard, to the recent Shah Rukh Khan production company Red Chillies Entertainment's Om Shanti Om.

"Our focus is on content and distribution. Acquiring global rights of Bollywood films is one way to enter the Indian market as it gives us content ownership. We are in the process of consolidating our various media businesses," Lulla said.

He added that the company would invest over Rs 600 crore (Rs 6 billion) in churning about 30 Bollywood films a year, which will include movie acquisitions, co-productions and for producing three-four films under their flagship.

Eros has tied-up with various filmmakers and production firms to roll out Hindi films. For instance, Sohail Khan Production and K Sera Sera's Partner is a result of an output deal signed by Eros and K Sera Sera.

In a similar deal, it will distribute Sajid Nadiadwala's forthcoming film Heyy Babyy.

It also holds 64 per cent stake in Big Screen Entertainment via which it will release No Smoking. One of the major releases for the company is Goldie Behl's Drona starring Abhishek Bachchan.

The media house, which produces and distributes films across platforms such as home entertainment, television, theatres and new media owns more than 1,300 movie titles.

Eros forayed into music publishing with the its first music title Omkara last year.  Its theatre business contributes to 60 per cent of revenue, 15 per cent comes from music and home video while 15-20 per cent is earned from satellite rights and other new media formats.