On the 6th June,’06, a truly pioneering feat was accomplished at the Holiday Inn, Juhu, Mumbai. Some like-minded persons from the Film Industry took an initiative to hold a Seminar on the new realities of the Producer-Distributor-Exhibitor nexus in Films.

This eminent group, pivoted by Shashi Ranjan, successfully endeavoured to gather some of the most renowned representatives of all of the three sectors concerned and brought them on a platform to microscopically examine the scene, in a concerted effort.

The Indian Film Industry is witnessing many-a-change vis-à-vis the Making, Marketing and over-all Quality of Movies. There are Market-surveys aplenty that project a boom on our Film-scene, today. Besides, a number of MNC’s and our own Corporate-sector are also joining in, to take active participation in the Film-Production. On the surface, it is quite apparent that the Film Industry is at the crossroads of a great change.

But, as Shashi Ranjan puts it, ‘This fast changing scenario is not without its own inherent challenges. Today, the Distribution-sector is witnessing new realities and situations. The traditional buyers have all but vanished from the scene. The whole dynamics of the Distribution-Exhibition is changing dramatically. This Seminar is an endeavour to analyse these newly emerging parameters of the Producer-Distributor-Exhibitor relationships’.

Needless to say, it is only through a churning of ideas in this manner, that the Industry can come up with long-term solutions for ironing out all the issues in the said sectors and pave the way for smoother relationship amongst all the arms of Production, Distribution and Exhibition.

To do this churning, there was a highly distinguished panel of Speakers comprising, Messrs….., ….., ……, (Producers); ….., ……, ………, ……., (Distributors & Exhibitors)

There also followed an interaction between the Panel and the pre-eminent audience, consisting of sterling personalities from a cross-section of the Industry. All the pertinent issues were discussed threadbare and rare insights were thrown in, by persons who matter in the field.

The deliberations were followed by Dinner & Cocktails, whereby, the exchanging of notes and points of view continued for long.

The distinguished Panel of Speakers

Producers:

Mr. Ramesh Sippy
Mr. Mahesh Bhat
Mr. Boney Kapoor
Mr. Mukesh Bhat
Mr. Shashi Ranjan
Mr. Ashok Pandit
Mr. Sudhir Mishra
Mr. Akbar Khan
Mr. Pritish Nandy


Distributors/Exhibitors:

Mr. Manmohan Shetty … Adlabs/Fame Cinemas
Mr. Ajay Bijali … PVR Theatres
Mr. Rajesh Thadani … Nimbus
Mr. Rakesh Sippy … B.R.A. Enterprises
Mr. Rajiv Malhotra … Yashraj Films
Mr. B L Gautam … UTV
Mr. Sanjay Jumani … Overseas Distributor
Mr. Aroon Sharma …. Inox Theares