Two news and a common theme.

Classic `Sholay` now preloaded on mobiles

Nokia unveiled two new mobile handsets – N81 and N95 8GB – that have the cult movie preloaded. “The facility will be available in every N81 and N95 8GB handset across the country.”

Other than high storage capacity, the N81 also comes preloaded with English music videos, best-selling Bollywood and Hollywood songs and all-time hit comedy scenes from Hindi movies across genres. (source)

Digital Music sale on rise

Bollywood production houses are searching for newer ways to make money and digital music is the most profitable channel.

A few instances:

• Om Shanti Om is the first bollywood movie to release it’s fully downloadable music on mobile handsets and digital media (including iTunes) across 23 countries. (source)
• More than 88 per cent of the total revenue of Rs 4,100 crore projected for the Indian music industry by 2009 will come from the sale of digital music. (soundbuzz research)

What this essentially means is that new age consumers are eager to explore new ways to consume bollywood (and related) products; and if it can successfully happen with digital music, why not the movies too?

And that’s what seems to be the new mantra:

• WatchIndia Announces Partnership With Yash Raj Films (for pay per view streaming movies from YRF production house)
  WatchIndia today announced a strategic partnership with Yash Raj Films (YRF), India’s leading entertainment conglomerate. Starting this month, WatchIndia will offer Bollywood films produced by Yash Raj Films via Pay-Per-View. WatchIndia offers the 4 million Indian expatriates living in the U.S. and Canada live Indian TV, top-rated channels and free video-on-demand — all with only an Internet connection. (source)
• Joost signs first bollywood deal with Eros Intnl
  Eros International has collaborated with Internet television service Joost to provide more than 200 Bollywood movies and over 600 music videos from Eros’ catalogue including films like 1942 A Love Story and Salaam-e–Ishq (for free). (source)

I see a strong revenue source for any overseas expansion and do foresee more such deals coming Bollywood way.

But at the same time, aren’t production houses over-digitizing the movie experience?

Would you really enjoy watching Sholay in the teenie weenie mobile screen, or even through streaming media? What’s your take?
bollywood

Tags: Indian Entertainment Industry