4th Jan 2010 14:15
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Final Release |
4 January 2010 |
DQ Entertainment PLC ("DQE")
DQ Entertainment PLC ("DQE") announces TV Movie and TV series
based on Oscar winner - Hon Satyajit Ray's iconic detective stories 'The Mysteries and FELUDA'.
DQE, the animation, gaming, live action production and global distribution group listed on AIM, London, which recently filed its Draft Red Herring Prospectus with The Regulators in India for approval for listing in India, is pleased to announce the production of an animated tele-movie and animated TV series - The Mysteries and FELUDA', in a joint meeting attended by the Minister In-charge of Information Technologies, Dr Debesh Das, Govt. of West Bengal at DQE's Kolkata Production Center. 'FELUDA', being developed and produced by DQE is a 100% home grown production. 'FELUDA' is a series of detective novels and short stories written by the famous Indian film director and writer Satyajit Ray who was a towering figure in the world of Cinema. The maestro and his son, director Sandeep Ray, have produced several movies based on these famous detective stories including award winning Shonar Kella, Joi Baba Felunath, Bombaiyer Bombete and more. The first Indian to have won an Oscar, Satyajit Ray was a director, writer, and painter par excellence. Winner of 32 National Film Awards and recipient of the Legion of Honour by President of France, stories written and directed by Ray include several fiction and non-fiction works. Ray was particularly famous for his contribution to children's literature, which included unpretentious and entertaining subjects of adventure, detective stories, fantasy, science fiction and even horror. The 'FELUDA' detective series has had resounding success over the last 3 decades on the silver screen with a tremendous fan following and was also featured on talk shows on BBC, UK. For the first time ever, FELUDA's detective adventures will be animated in a series of Tele-Movies and TV Series. 'The Kathmandu Caper' the first animated tele-movie is being adapted and written for animation in London by the famous children's writer - Charles Hodges. The story revolves around a client with an evil look-alike, a kidnap in the neighbourhood and a gang that is involved in illegal activities. The kidnap of a stranger in the neighbourhood leads FELUDA with his 14 year old smart cousin Topshe, Jatayu his funny but smart friend and Bones their wily dog, to Kathmandu amidst the beautiful scenic Himalayan ranges and then straight into the den of Maganlal Meghraj, their old formidable adversary. Involving a thrilling hair raising chase in the twisting mountainous roads, the case turns into a memorable adventure, with lots of drama, adventure and mystery, laced with the typical FELUDA humor and non-stop action. Tapaas Chakravarti Chairman & CEO of DQE Group said, "FELUDA - The Kathmandu Caper, will be a fast paced invigorating and an action packed tele-movie and TV series. Our objective is to introduce this genre of animated TV series to the new generation of discerning young TV viewers - first to the tweens in this region and then world-wide. We hope to do justice to the fabulous detective stories of Shri Satyajit Ray and also portray exotic locales while capturing the thrill and excitement of his stories. We have confirmed its acquisition for Indian broadcasting in several languages from a leading global broadcaster and this has been a huge affirmation that these stories will be received well by audiences. We are so grateful to Shri Sandeep Ray, Director, son of late Sri Satyajit Ray, for allowing us to take these phenomenal detective stories to animation for audiences across the world. This is a huge responsibility and hence we have engaged the best international talent and DQE's best national teams to produce this animated series directly under my personal supervision." He further said " I am also pleased to put on record in the august presence of our Honorouble Minister In-charge of Information Technologies, West Bengal, Dr Debesh Das, that DQE has lived up to its promise to setup a production as well as a training base in Kolkata. DQE's Kolkata production centre has emerged as one of the best units of DQE countrywide. DQE has taken over 600 talented students from the WEBEL-DQE academy so far. The production team in Kolkata completed the American Series - "Twisted Whiskers" and is presently working on an iconic property - "Little Nick" ( Le Petit Nicolas) - a famous property from France in co-production with M6. At a time when the world economic climate has been under a cloud, DQE's order book has swelled and it is in expansion mode. It is now further poised to grow its operations in its West Bengal production center and also expand to Siliguri - a DQE training facility to bring International quality training of Animation and Gaming to North Bengal and NE States."
About DQE DQE is a leading animation, gaming and entertainment production and global distribution group engaged in production, co-production and original IP development with a workforce of 3500+(2788 permanent employees and 712 freelancers and trainees), and a global client - partner base of over 90 producers, distributors, broadcasters and licensors including Walt Disney Television Animation, Nickelodeon Animation Studios Inc., Electronic Arts, Marvel Comics, American Greetings, NBC-Universal, BBC Group, M6/ France TV/ TF-1 Broadcasting groups from France, ZDF Germany and many more world-wide. DQE has produced/co-produced and distributed iconic brands such as Iron Man - the first 3D animated TV series, Twisted Whiskers, Mikido, Casper, Pinky & Perky, second season of Large Family, third season of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and is now producing properties like Little Prince and Little Nicolas. DQE has a library of over 350 hours of international programs for distribution. DQE is also developing and producing 'The Jungle Book'as a 52 episode animated series and a 60 minute TV feature, Toomai-The Elephant Boy which is a live action TV series as well as Indian IPs which are on production like Mysteries of Feluda, and Omkar. DQE's production facilities are based in Hyderabad, Mumbai and Kolkata and it has international sales representatives in Los Angeles, Paris and Tokyo. DISCLAIMER DQ Entertainment (International) Limited, a wholly owned Indian subsidiary of DQE, is proposing, subject to receipt of requisite approvals, market conditions and other considerations, an initial public offer of its equity shares in India and has filed a draft red herring prospectus ("DRHP") with the Securities and Exchange Board of India ("SEBI"). The DRHP is available on the website of SEBI and the website of the book running lead manager. This press release does not constitute or form part of any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to purchase or subscribe for, any equity shares, nor shall it or any part of it nor the fact of its distribution form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract or investment decision. Any potential investor should note that investment in equity shares involves a high degree of risk. For further details, potential investors should refer to the DRHP, which has been filed with SEBI including the section titled "Risk Factors". This press release has been prepared for publication in India and the UK and may not be published or distributed in the United States of America and is not an offer or solicitation of an offer for sale of securities in the United States. The equity shares of DQE and DQ Entertainment (International) Limited have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended or any state securities laws in the United States. This announcement does not constitute an offer of securities or sale in any jurisdiction, including the United States, and may not be offered or sold in the United States, except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act of 1993.Media Contact:
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DQ Entertainment PLC Sumedha Saraogi +91 40 2355 3726/27 or |
Buchanan Communication Mark Edwards/ Jeremy Garcia / Miranda Higham Tel: +44 20 7466 5000 |
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Religare Hichens Harrison plc Vineeta Manchanda Nicholas Malins Smith James Wood Tel: +44 20 7444 0500 |
Blomfield Corporate Finance Limited A 100% subsidiary of Religare Hichens Harrison Plc Alan MacKenzie Peter Trevelyan-Clark Derek Crowhurst Tel: +44 20 7444 0800 |
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