Amazon Strikes Licensing Deal With Bollywood Banner Dharma Productions for India

By Nyay Bhushan

The upcoming launch of Amazon's Prime Video Service in the country will offer catalog and future titles from leading filmmaker Karan Johar's banner.

Amazon has set its eyes on Bollywood ahead of the planned India launch of its Prime Video service, unveiling a licensing deal Monday with leading filmmaker Karan Johar's Dharma Productions banner.
​
The pact covers catalog and upcoming titles, such as romantic drama Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.Directed by Johar, the film stars actor Ranbir Kapoor and actresses Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Anushka Sharma. It will be released theatrically on Oct. 28 during the Diwali festival frame.

Other upcoming titles include OK Jaanu and Badrinath Ki Dulhaniya, while Prime Video subscribers will also have access to Dharma's catalog, such as hit romantic drama Kal Ho Naa Ho, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Agneepath, Student of the Year and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, among others. Also included are recent titles such as Brothers, Kapoor and Sons, Shaandaar and Gori Tere Pyar Mein.

“We are excited to have Dharma Productions’ library and future slate of titles for the upcoming launch of Prime Video” in the country, Amazon Video India director and country Nitesh Kripalani said. “We know our Prime members are going to love the broad selection of films and stories - everything from soulful romance to heartfelt and funny family stories - that Dharma does so well.”

Dharma Productions CEO Apoorva Mehta added that “the time couldn’t be more right for us to mark our presence” on digital platforms and that partnering with Amazon “will go a long way in ensuring that our content will not only be seamlessly streamed, but will also see a huge demand from users of Prime Video."

The companies didn't disclose financial details and didn't say if Amazon could also use the licensed content in other markets.  

​For origin of article, please click here.

---