Indian industrial conglomerate unveils new scripted entertainment business
First major drama series ‘Curse of the Kohinoor’ (w/t) to launch at MIPCOM 2019
(Cannes) Amara Raja Group, one of India’s largest industrial corporations, today announces the launch of a new entertainment division focused on producing major drama series for the international marketplace.
Based in Hyderabad and London, the new division Amara Raja Media & Entertainment will develop and produce blue chip drama projects for the international marketplace and will launch the business and its first production, ‘Curse of the Kohinoor’ (w/t), at MIPCOM 2019 in Cannes.
The scripted series is being produced by Amara Raja Media & Entertainment in partnership with Star Entertainment Worldwide, producer of over a dozen TV productions including the Indian adaptation of US reality series ‘The Biggest Loser’ and Contentflow Studios, owned by renowned Indian producer Bobby Bedi (‘Bandit Queen, ‘Fire’). Executive Producers are Padma Galla for Amara Raja Media & Entertainment, Rahul Aggarwal for Star Entertainment Worldwide and Bobby Bedi.
The series is directed by Colin Teague, director of the BAFTA-winning BBC series ‘Dr Who’ and ITV’s ‘Beowulf’, and is being written and co-developed by novelist and playwright Farrukh Dhondy, the former Channel 4 Commissioning Editor for Multicultural Programming. ‘Curse of the Kohinoor’ will be shot on location in India and the United Kingdom.
The heist thriller series tells the story of a plot to steal the Kohinoor diamond, centrepiece of the British Crown Jewels. Featuring many of the biggest names from Bollywood and Tollywood, ‘Curse of the Kohinoor’ intertwines the history of the iconic diamond with the story of an incredible robbery attempt.
“We are delighted to launch Amara Raja Media & Entertainment to the international content world here at MIPCOM. Working with producers and broadcasters from across the globe, our company has bold ambitions to create premium scripted series for the Indian and global marketplace,” said Padma Galla, Director of Amara Raja Media & Entertainment.
“Star Entertainment is delighted to be working with Amara Raja Media & Entertainment and Bobby Bedi on ‘Curse of the Kohinoor’. We are bringing the very best talent from the Indian and UK scripted worlds together in this premium production for the international market,” said Rahul Aggarwal, Star Entertainment Worldwide.
Amara Raja Media & Entertainment marks the first mass media investment by the Amara Raja Group, which employs over 14,000 people and has a presence in automotive batteries, packaged foods and beverages, electronic products manufacturing, infrastructure sector, power system production and fabrication of steel products.
