BOMBAY TIMES (January 28, 2016)
A part from being the market leader with three out of the top five grossing Bollywood films in 2015 -Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Bajirao Mastani and Tanu Weds Manu Returns (TWMR) - Eros International Media Ltd, one of India's leading global film companies, also tasted critical acclaim and further commercial success last year with films like NH10 and Badlapur. They also had a golden run in Telugu and Bengali with super hits like Srimanthudu and Bela Seshe respectively. There is a palpable sense of excitement in the trade and the junta after they have announced their slate across multiple languages this year, the biggest by any Indian studio. The company has also taken the film awards season by storm, bagging a total of 46 awards so far for their films at various prestigious awards.The studio's film slate for 2016 comprises a repertoire of high-profile and content-led films in Hindi and other regional languages, like R Balki's Ki & Ka, a fun love story between two people with contrasting ideologies starring Arjun Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor, the hit franchise comedy Housefull 3 and Rohit Dhawan's Dishoom starring John Abraham and Varun Dhawan, Eros-Excel Entertainment and Dharma Productions' Baar Baar Dekho, a love story starring Katrina Kaif and Sidharth Malhotra and Rock On 2 featuring Farhan Akhtar and Shraddha Kapoor.
Their association with Aanand L Rai to release a slate of projects - Nil Battey Sannata that's being toasted at various festivals, Happy Bhaag Jayegi, a comedy with first-time pair of Abhay Deol and Diana Penty and Manmarziyan, a romantic drama with Bhumi Pednekar and Ayushmann Khurrana, will continue. The filmmaker of TWM and Raanjhaana is also likely to to start his own directorial venture this summer.
Eros will also take forward its association with Bhansali Productions forward with more co-productions. The studio has also tied up with Phantom's socio-drama superhero film Bhavesh Joshi with Harshvardhan Kapoor, being directed by Vikramaditya Motwane.
Hansal Mehta's critically-acclaimed Aligarh, and Marathi National Award-winner, Ravi Jadhav's Hindi debut Banjo with Riteish Deshmukh and Nargis, Mohit Jha's sports drama Saat Kadam with Amit Sadh and Pawan Kripalani's psychological thriller Phobia with Radhika Apte are other talked-about films on their roster. They have also tied up to release Vinay Sapru and Radhika Rao's musical love story Sanam Teri Kasam, Deepak Tijori's Do Lafzon Ki Kahani with Randeep Hooda and Kajal Agarwal along with Saif Ali Khan starrer Chef, a remake of 2014's Hollywood hit by the same name.
The company remains focused on expanding its regional presence across languages. Sunil Lulla, Managing Director, Eros International said, “We have seen an excellent 2015 with the resounding success of TWMR, peaking with the multiple record breaking Bajrangi Bhaijaan and ending the year with our crowning glory, Bajirao Mastani.We have an equally promising slate coming up this year that will reinforce and further strengthen our leadership position in the Indian media and entertainment industry. In a few weeks, we will showcase to the world the first set of films under our Trinity franchise banner.“
