Cricketer Sreesanth launches Hanuman Merchandise

Hanuman, the Indian Super-Hero returns, not only on the silver screen but also in your home, with the launch of the Return of Hanuman merchandise this winter season. In a significant development, Percept Picture Company (PPC) and Pantaloon Retail (India) Ltd (PRIL) yesterday announced the introduction of customized products, which will be available exclusively at all Big Bazaar stores across the country. Cricket’s bowling sensation S. Sreesanth launched the merchandise at Orchid City Centre, Mumbai.

After taking the country by storm with their first edition of the Super Hero – Hanuman; Percept Picture Company returns to the silver screen with Return of Hanuman and creates a brand with the pioneers of the retail revolution in India - Pantaloon Retail India Ltd. As a part of the marketing tie-up, the entire range of movie merchandise - which includes Accessories, Apparel, Stationery, Toys, Books, Crockery will be marketed through 75 Big Bazaar and 25 Stand alone Food Bazaar stores.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Preet Bedi, CEO, Percept Picture Company said, “Hanuman is the first and the biggest superhero franchise in India. Big Bazaar has specially designed merchandise of the film, which has a wide variation from Toys to Stationery, Crockery to Apparel, which will be loved by kids. We believe that animated movies have a huge impact on kids and through the movie and the merchandise we will be able to connect with them at an emotional level. The merchandise and other initiatives are no longer film-led, instead they are character-led and this time our aim is to develop Hanuman as a brand”

Says Mr Rajan Malhotra, CEO, Big Bazaar, “We are confident that the Hanuman Returns merchandise is going to be huge success and it’s a prelude to many more such initiatives.”

Abhishek Bachchan in Taare Zameen Pa

Taare Zameen Par is a story of a kid suffering from dyslexia. To create awareness about this disorder an example of Abhishek Bachchan is used in the film, who also suffered from this disorder. Aamir Khan took prior permission from the Bachchans to make this reference and use Abhishek’s name and picture as an example of success in spite of suffering from dyslexia at a young age.

Abhishek is among the crème de la crème of Bollywood today. The disorder did not stop him from creating a place for himself in the film industry and become a successful star. That’s the message Aamir gives to the kids in the film. Like Abhishek, many known personalities fall in this category, which include the likes of Leonardo Da Vinci, Thomas Alva Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, Winston Churchill, Keanu Reeves, Albert Einstein and Tom Cruise.

Taare Zameen Par is all set to release on December 21 and marks the directorial debut of Aamir Khan.

"Kashmir is the next Morocco for world cinema" - Rahul

Rahul Bose has just finished shooting in the bitter winter of Kashmir for Santosh Sivan's second Hindi film, Dastan. But he's never felt warmer. "The last time I had been to Kashmir I was 4. I had no recollection of the Valley. We shot in freezing bleakness. The weather was very Russian. It was like Adventures of Narnia coming to life…all white with snow and certainly gloomy. But the shapes of the Chinar trees covered with snow transports you to another world."

Rahul can't stop raving about the now-tranquil Valley, “The warmth we experienced there was amazing. The army and police were fully co-operative. But we never needed them. My prediction about Kashmir...with the kind of vehicles, hotels, food, and tourism infrastructure that it now boasts of, Kashmir according to me is going to be the next destination for international cinema…like Morocco became seven years ago. Very few international locales haven't been explored yet. Kashmir is definitely going to be that destination.”

Apparently, Rahul, Anupam Kher and the rest of the crew escaped near death when their car skidded off the steep slippery road. Says Rahul, "That's what was reported. But it isn't true. It was also reported that I was driving when the car skidded. Not true at all. I haven't touched the steering wheel of any vehicle in Kashmir. No sensible actor touches vehicles in a production unit. You lose your insurance if you do such stupid things. We were in Chandanvadi shooting the glacier when at around 10 am, it began to snow. We decided to go back from 30,000 feet above sea level to downhill to Pahalgam. The cars began to slalom. We stopped our cars, and all of us walked for 2 ½ hours down the mountains in that snow- storm. It was sensational. 25 years of rugby stood me in good stead that morning. And don't forget, I'm a boy from the hills. I'm from Kasauli."

Shooting with Santosh Sivan for the second time was an exhilarating experience for Rahul. "Last year we shot Before The Rains in Kerala which was cold enough. Now Kashmir got so much colder that Kerala seems warm in comparison. I've told Santosh our next movie together better be in a warm 7-star hotel."