Partnership’s First Hindi Co-Production for Indian Subcontinent Based on Lionsgate’s Critically-Acclaimed Film Warrior
MUMBAI, India, August 13, 2015 — Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), a premier next generation global content leader responsible for the blockbuster Hunger Games, Twilight, Divergent, Expendables and Saw franchises, has partnered with Dharma Productions and Endemol India on the family and martial arts drama Brothers, which launches in approximately 4,000 theatres in India as part of its global rollout this Friday, August 14th.
The film, starring Akshay Kumar, Siddharth Malhotra and Jackie Shroff and directed by Karan Malhotra, is the partnership’s first Hindi-language co-production. Adapted for Indian audiences from Lionsgate’s critically-acclaimed Warrior, Brothers tells the story of two estranged brothers and their struggling relationship with each other and their father, set in the intense, gritty and action-packed world of mixed martial arts competition.
“We’re delighted to partner with our friends at Dharma Productions and Endemol India on our first Hindi language co-production, a powerful and exciting film that has something for everyone,” said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-Chairs Patrick Wachsberger and Rob Friedman. “Combining a spell-binding family drama with non-stop action and thrilling fight scenes and featuring a top-notch cast, we expect Brothers to resonate with action audiences as well as all moviegoers who love great storytelling.”
Talking about the partnership, Deepak Dhar, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Endemol India said, “We are pleased to partner with the makers of popular Hollywood movies like The Twilight Saga, The Hunger Games, The Divergent Series etc. for their maiden Hindi language film. We as a company have always been known for bringing unique concepts and projects in India. Associating with a film like Brothers was one such endeavour to bring a sport themed movie to Indian audiences which is high on emotional quotient as well. Brothers is a quality film made with top-of-the-line production values that will strike a chord with Indian audiences. It was a great working experience with the doyens of Hollywood and Bollywood film industry. Being part of this film has also strengthened our venture in film production and we look forward to be part of many such films in the future.”
Brothers has already captivated Indian audiences with its promo materials and entrancing soundtrack melodies. The Indian audience will also get to witness its first authentic mixed martial arts (MMA) action, as no Indian film has previously showcased this full contact combat sport.
Brothers is presented by Fox Star Studios in association with Lionsgate, Dharma Productions and Endemol India and will be released in theatres worldwide on August 14, 2015. The partnership was negotiated by Rohit Tiwari at Morris St. Advisors.
About Lionsgate:
Lionsgate is a premier next generation global content leader with a strong and diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, digital distribution, new channel platforms, video games and international distribution and sales. Lionsgate currently has more than 30 television shows on over 20 different networks spanning its primetime production, distribution and syndication businesses, including such critically-acclaimed hits as the multiple Emmy Award-winning Mad Men and Nurse Jackie, the broadcast network series Nashville, the syndication success The Wendy Williams Show, the critically-acclaimed hit series Orange is the New Black and the breakout series The Royals.
Its feature film business has been fueled by such successes as the blockbuster first three installments of The Hunger Games franchise, the first two installments of the Divergent franchise, The Age of Adaline, CBS/Lionsgate’s The DUFF, John Wick, Now You See Me, Roadside Attractions’ Love & Mercy and Mr. Holmes, Lionsgate/Codeblack Films’ Addicted and Pantelion Films’ Instructions Not Included, the highest-grossing Spanish-language film ever released in the U.S.
Lionsgate’s home entertainment business is an industry leader in box office-to-DVD and box office-to-VOD revenue conversion rates. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 16,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company’s core businesses. The Lionsgate and Summit brands remain synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world. www.lionsgate.com