Discussion - SHAKIRA - Page 4

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, Thursday, July 19, 2007 -- (Business Wire India)
Sparking off a trend of innovation in Indian entertainment, UTV along with Malaysia-based media company Astro Measat today announced the launch of Brand Bindass, India's first local 360 leisure & entertainment brand for young India. It comprises of a gamut of entertainment and leisure space- bouquet of television channels, mobile, web, gaming, merchandising, retail and nationwide ground events.

To celebrate the launch of the brand, Bindass has also announced the launch of 'Bindass Space Yatra'– A nationwide hunt for the 1st Young Indian space tourist on RocketPlane XP. The lucky winner of the hunt will get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel as a passenger on board RocketPlane XP, a commercial flight into space.

Zarina Mehta, CEO, Bindass said on the occasion, "We are delighted to launch brand BINDASS with a truly once-in-a-lifetime offer for our audience. The idea of presenting the youth with a chance to travel into space is a truly Bindass thing to do and emulates our Brand in its totality of being fun, frank, fearless and valuing freedom in all its forms. BINDASS reflects an attitude that young India embodies. BINDASS aims to lend the youth a complete 360 platform for self-expression- A space where they can just hang out, chill & celebrate being young in India!"

About the nationwide hunt for the space tourist, Mr. Bhaktiani, Spokesperson, Rocketplane said, "This is the first time RocketPlane has got into an alliance with an Indian brand to offer the audience a chance to fly into outer space. We are very excited about the initiative and look forward to the enthusiasm Bindass Space Yatra will evoke among young Indians. "

Brand Bindass is laid on the foundation of a comprehensive proprietary research conducted by UTV on the Indian youth and its entertainment needs. Insights from the research have lent the brand its values – Fun, Frank, Fearless and valuing Freedom in all its forms. These four qualities are personified by Brand Bindass.

The foremost manifestation of brand BINDASS will be with the launch of its Hindi General Entertainment Channel for Young India – BINDASS. The channel is targeted at the age group of 15 to 34 years.

Bindass channel will introduce Shakira, India's first female action-hero, India's first street-magician and Lagegi, India's first ever stand-up comedy act performed before a live audience. While Shakira is an edgy, action-thriller series in the prime slot showcasing today's empowered woman who fights for justice, Lagegi is a spirited satire on current issues affecting young India shot only 48 hours prior to telecast so as to maintain its topicality. 'Sun Yaar Chill Maar', a comedy show on the life of 5 college friends is a laugh riot that strikes an instant chord with anyone who has ever attended college, is in college or will attend college. 3rd Degree is a show featuring Ugesh Sarcar -India's first street-magician performing live acts and stunts to enthrall the audience. To add to the spice, the programming is peppered with extreme sports, action, edge-of-the-seat thrillers, horror shows, spoofs, street magic, slapstick comedy and over 100 international movies.

Speaking of the channel, Zarina Mehta said, "With Bindass, we aspire to redefine the Hindi general entertainment space. We believe its innovative content, with a mix of original programming and acquired shows, will strike an instant chord with the audience."

About the Shows:

Shakira:

Shakira is India's first female action-hero. She is a dark angel fighting for justice. A strong girl with a mind of her own, she takes an unfair system marred by sexual discrimination by its horns and slays the evil forces that lurk within.

Shakira is a celebration of today's empowered woman. An edgy action thriller, the show captures the dichotomy of a woman who is a demure working girl by the day but transforms into this fearless, spirited girl by the night to cut the villains of the system down to size.

She's India's answer to Lara Croft!

Lagegi:

Lagegi is India's first-ever standup comedy with a live audience, shot only 48 hours before telecast. A show that minces no words and says it how it is, Lagegi takes whacky potshots at topical issues touching young India. Lagegi will naturally capture the pulse of the audience it is aimed at. The hosts of Lagegi, Mantra & Anirudh are young and vibrant – essentially Bindass blokes with sparkling wit and an instant likeability factor

Unlike other comedy acts that poke fun at less privileged members of the society, Lagegi is all about having a hearty laugh at ourselves!

Sun Yaar Chill Maar:

Life's a Bitch! So Sun Yaar Chill Maar The daily comedy to look out for !!!

Sun Yaar Chill Maar, a comedy show on the life of 5 college friends is a laugh riot that strikes an instant chord with anyone who has ever attended college, is in college or will attend college.

A slice of college life with a desperate JAT boy, a samosa-seeking RJ, a Jugaadu, a bengali Beauty & a 'piddi' Punjabi.

Each one has a quirk of their own, each one endearing. Watch them and fall in love!

Ugesh Sarcar's 3rd Degree:

India's first street magician Weaving magic on your screen

Spinning a web of magic through the streets of India is jaadugar Ugesh Sarcar, the son of renowned magician Prof. M. C. Sarcar.

His stage, the streets. His audience, real people. His art, one of its kind.

This street-smart street-sorcerer can levitate, walk up a wall, morph his body, read minds, do bizarre things, float & bend objects and blow your mind away!

He is here to change the perception of traditional magic. A new era of magic has begun in the country for the first time!

Notes To The Editor:

-- Announces pioneering 360* leisure & entertainment brand for young India

-- Announces nationwide hunt for India's first space tourist on RocketPlane XP

-- Only channel to have a stand-up comedy show with a live audience, shot 48 hours prior to telecast

-- Introduces India's first female action-hero

-- Presents India's first street-magician

About UTV:

UTV Software Communications Ltd. is India's foremost Media & Entertainment Company with leadership position in 4 Verticals that includes Motion Pictures, Broadcasting, TV Content and New Media (i.e. Animation and Gaming). Listed on the Mumbai Stock Exchange. The Walt Disney Company holds a strategic stake in UTV who has subsidiaries for its businesses across India, the UK and USA.

UTV Motion Pictures pioneered the Studio Model in India with operations encompassing Production, Marketing, Distribution and International Co-Productions. Strategic relationships with 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney and Sony Pictures along with Will Smith's Overbrook have positioned UTV as the only South Asian Company in the International Movie Space. Recent releases include Mira Nair's "The Namesake" and under-Production M. Night Shyamalan's "The Happening". Its Indian slate includes the BAFTA nominated Rang De Basanti with a slate of over 12 movies on the floor, along with its International Co-Productions makes it the largest Movie Studio in South Asia.

In New Media, UTV has one of the largest 3D Animated facilities located in Mumbai and after it acquiring controlling stakes in two Gaming Companies i.e. India Games (India's largest Mobile Gaming company) and Ignition UK (Console Gaming) along with it having under Production three of the largest Animation movies to come out of India in the next 2 years, it has carved a space as the premier New Media Company in South Asia.

In Television Content, a business with which UTV was founded, the company produces and markets over 20hrs of Television programmes a week in multiple languages.

UTV Broadcasting Ltd (UBL) will be launching a bouquet of channels that it will also distribute. This includes India's first 360* Entertainment Brand for Young India and related channels called "Bindass", a World Cinema Channel entitled "Olive TV" and a slue of other Channels to be announced soon. After the roaring success of its Kids Channel – Hungama Tv to the Number 1 position in 18 months. More information on the group is available at www.utvnet.com

About RocketPlane:

Rocketplane, Inc. is a commercial space transportation company focused on providing safe, reliable and low-cost access to space. With a diverse family of fully-reusable space vehicles and the ability to serve multiple space markets, the company is poised to redefine space transportation.The company was formed through the combination of Rocketplane Kistler, Inc. (formerly known as Kistler Aerospace, Inc.) and Rocketplane Global, Inc. (formerly known as Rocketplane Limited, Inc.).

Rocketplane Global, Inc. was founded in 2001 as an Oklahoma Corporation as the successor company to Pioneer Rocketplane - with a vision to be a driving force in the future of commercial space flight. Rocketplane opened its first office in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in May 2004. In less than two years, RGI has grown to over fifty highly-skilled employees, three facilities in operation or under development, and is well underway in developing their first vehicle, the XP suborbital spaceplane, which will begin test flights in early 2009.

To view the photographs, please click on the link given below:

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For press backgrounder on Bindass click here

Media contact details

Priya Mathias, Manager – Corporate Communications & CSR,
Bindass,
+91 98215 18313,
priya.mathias@bindass.com

Jay N, Associate Director- IPAN,
IPAN, Mumbai,
+91 98679 66996,
jayesh.n@ipan.com