Big B’s ABCL to produce Marathi films

Amitabh Bachchan and Subhash Ghai have set their sights on the industry; plan to invest good money this year

Big B's ABCL to produce Marathi films

Amitabh Bachchan and Subhash Ghai have set their sights on the industry; plan to invest good money this year

The Marathi film industry that was tottering due to lack of finance for quite sometime now has finally got a glimpse of hope.

There might be good days ahead for Marathi cinema as Amitabh Bachchan's ABCL and Subhash Ghai's Mukta Art Ltd have set their sights on the industry and plan to invest good money this year.

Big B's ABCL is producing Umesh Kulkarni's Vihir, which is set around the life of a seven-year-old boy while Subhash Ghai, who had produced Sanai Chaughade last year, is planning three more Marathi films in 2009.

"These big names of the Indian cinema are showingu00a0 a keen interest in Marathi films as the industry is growing by about 20 to 25 per cent every year.

Also, Marathi films are getting a big audience these days," said Ajay Sarpotdar, president of Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Chitrapat Mahamandal.

According to Sarpotdar, the net collections of 66 Marathi films that were released in 2008 crossed Rs 125 crore. "It is 25 per cent more than 2007," he informed.

He added that Marathi films have now become an integral part of prestigious Goa and also Pune International Film Festivals. "This year we are planning to participate in film festivals in the UK and Australia as well," he said.

Others follow

Meanwhile, Nikhil Sane, production head of Zee Talkij, said they were promoting four films in 2008-09 which is a record in itself.

Nitin Vaidya, CEO of Zee Network, said, "We can earn a net revenue of Rs 40 crore this financial year which is a major portion in the total revenue generated by the Marathi films.