Anil Thadani’s AA Films has secured the distribution rights for four eagerly awaited South Indian titles slated for release in 2024.
These films include Sukumar’s “Pushpa: The Rule – Part 2,” featuring Allu Arjun; Shankar’s “Game Changer,” starring Ram Charan; Nag Ashwin’s “Kalki 2898 AD,” led by Prabhas; and Koratala Siva’s “Devara,” featuring NTR Jr.
Who is Anil Thadani?
Anil Thadani is the owner of films distribution company ‘AA Films’ husband of Raveena Tandon and for those unfamiliar, Anil Thadani has previously distributed blockbuster films like Baahubali 1 & 2, KGF 1 & 2, Pushpa, Kantara, Salaar, HanuMan, and numerous others.
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AA Films Ventures into Pan India Market: A Look at the Latest Acquisitions and Industry Trends
Anil Thadani’s AA Films has acquired the distribution rights for four highly anticipated South Indian titles set for release in 2024. These films include Sukumar’s “Pushpa: The Rule – Part 2,” starring Allu Arjun; Shankar’s “Game Changer,” headlined by Ram Charan; Nag Ashwin’s “Kalki 2898 AD,” led by Prabhas; and Koratala Siva’s “Devara,” featuring NTR Jr.
While originally made in the Telugu language, these films will also be released across India and globally in various Indian languages, including Hindi. They fall under the category known locally in India as ‘pan India’ films.
India’s film industry has traditionally been divided into local cinema markets, primarily based on geography and language groups, with limited crossover between them, except for the Bollywood (Hindi-language) segment, which typically enjoys wider releases. However, there is a noticeable shift occurring, with more films aiming for pan-Indian appeal and broader distribution beyond their regional boundaries.
The term “Pan India film” typically refers to movies produced in one of the four South Indian languages – Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam – which are dubbed into Hindi and other languages and released across India and in overseas diaspora markets. Notable examples of this phenomenon include Mani Ratnam’s Tamil-language films “Roja” (1992) and “Bombay” (1995), which achieved success all over India in their Hindi-language dubbed versions.
More recent examples of Pan India films include S.S. Rajamouli’s Telugu and Tamil language “Baahubali: The Beginning” (2015) and “Baahubali 2: The Conclusion” (2017), as well as the Telugu-language “RRR” (2022). Additionally, Prashant Neel’s Kannada-language “K.G.F: Chapter 1” (2018) and its sequel “K.G.F: Chapter 2” (2022), Rishab Shetty’s “Kantara” (2022), Prashant Neel’s Telugu-language “Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire” (2023), and Blessy’s Malayalam-language “The Goat Life” (2024) are notable examples of successful Pan India films.
Of these, AA Films distributed the Hindi-language versions of the “Baahubali” and “K.G.F.” films, as well as “Kantara.”
Thadani Forecasts Cinematic Milestones: A Closer Look at Four Potential Game-Changing Indian Films
Anil Thadani mentioned to Variety that these four Indian films have the potential to create history. He explained that they have large budgets and are designed for the big screen, featuring big stars and directed by renowned industry professionals. Thadani believes each movie could pioneer new standards in terms of scale and ambition, offering audiences something truly special. He expressed confidence in their ability to achieve record-breaking success at the box office, marking significant milestones in Indian cinema.
“These four Indian films are poised to make history. Backed by massive budgets, they’re tailor-made for the big screen experience, starring superstars and helmed by the industry’s most celebrated directors and producers. Each film has the potential to break new ground with its scale and ambition, offering something truly unique for audiences. With the potential for record-breaking box office success, these cinematic spectacles promise to be milestones in Indian filmmaking,” Thadani told Variety.
Thadani also mentioned how these films go beyond regional boundaries, appealing to a broader audience throughout India. He noted that this broader appeal could lead to higher box office earnings and a more widespread cultural influence.
“They transcend regional barriers, appealing to a much larger audience base across India. This translates to bigger box office potential and a wider cultural impact,” Thadani said about the country-wide potential of pan India films.
