Yash Raj Films (YRF), India's premier film studio, has entered into an agreement with The Walt Disney Studios, world-renowned leaders in family entertainment, to exclusively create a series of original computer-animated feature films, it was announced June 12, by Yash Chopra, Chairman of YRF, and Dick Cook, Chairman of The Walt Disney Studios.

The collaboration marks the first time for both companies to enter a co-production to produce films in India. Commenting on the announcement, Chopra said, "Yash Raj Films has been at the forefront in live-action feature films for almost four decades. Together with my son Aditya Chopra, we have created our own space with the efforts of a wonderful team - both creative and business -- and have had the opportunity of producing films that we believe in - films that entertain a large population, as well as the Indian Diaspora."

"When YRF decided to venture into the animation space, we felt that an alliance with Disney Studios, the leader in animation, represented the coming together of not just two organizations, but the teaming up of like-minded individuals committed to creating excellent products. Both companies not only have a common quest for excellence but also the same culture and traditions," added Chopra.

Disney's Cook said, "We're thrilled and honored to be working with Yash Chopra and Aditya Chopra and their talented team at YRF to create exceptional animated films in the Indian language that are culturally relevant for the avid movie-going audiences in India and around the world." "Yash Chopra and Aditya Chopra have proven themselves to be true visionaries and leaders in the Indian entertainment industry and have excelled in everything they have done.

Animation is a new and rapidly expanding area in India, and the collaboration between Disney and YRF will bring the very best in story-telling and cutting edge technology together as we make wonderful films that appeal to the entire family," added Cook. This landmark announcement by Yash Chopra and Dick Cook is a first in the field of animation.

YRF and Walt Disney Studios will work exclusively to co-produce a series of animation films in the Indian language. Both companies will be equal partners in the venture and will contribute creative, technical and financial support to the project. Each film under this alliance will be creatively overseen by Aditya Chopra and worked on with an inventive array of leading local talent. The first film to be co-produced in this alliance will be 'Roadside Romeo', set to release in 2008.

The film will be produced by Aditya Chopra and, written and directed by Jugal Hansraj, and will utilize state-of-the-art computer animation technology done entirely in India. As India's premier independent studio conglomerate, YRF core lies in the production and distribution of some of the industry's highest grossing films.

With offices also in New York, London, and Dubai, YRF handles the global distribution of its own films as well as films of other leading Indian producers. The Company also has its own music and home entertainment labels, design cell and post-production facilities, internet, digital, merchandising and marketing divisions, as well as in-house units focused on the creation of television software, ad films, and music videos.

YRF also has its own state-of-the-art fully integrated Studio, producing an average of six films a year, and thus making it an integral part of the entertainment business in India. Recognized the world over for its animation features, The Walt Disney Company, had annual revenues of nearly $34 billion in its most recent fiscal year, and a market capitalization of approximately $73.8 billion as of May 11, 2007.

 

Source: India Post 

 

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