WB, Ocher team on foursome
Duo to produce regional Indian language films
Pact covers production and distribution of live-action South Indian films to be released by Warner. It is the studio's second film production initiative in the country after "Made in China" with Ramesh Sippy Productions and Orion Pictures. Titles under the Ocher deal were not unveiled, though pair said they would work in four South Indian languages -- Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.
"Given (Ocher principal) Soundarya (Rajnikanth) and Ocher Studios' creative skills combined with our marketing and distribution network this is a perfect synergy," said Blaise Fernandes, country head for Warner Bros. Pictures India.
Chennai-based Ocher was founded in 2005 as a sub-contractor working on visual effects, digital film lab, non-linear editing and CGI and has been involved in 150 visual effects, advertisement and animation projects. Its debut feature, 3-D animated pic "Sultan the Warrior," is being helmed by Rajnikanth, daughter of Tamil superstar Rajnikanth whose likeness and voice are featured in the pic. Ocher plans to produce more animated pics and expand into gaming.
Helmed by Nikhil Advani and now in post-production, "Made in China" stars Akshay Kumar as a lowly Mumbai cook who is mistaken for a martial arts hero. It also stars Deepika Padukone. Warner holds worldwide rights.
