Bollywood Trade News Network

Aamir Khan Productions will be releasing the Oscar nominated LAGAAN on DVD for the first time in the country. The DVD to be released by Excel Home Videos is a much-awaited offering in the home entertainment market. Says M N Kapasi, Managing Director, Excel Home Videos, 'LAGAAN has been one of the most famous ambassadors of Indian Cinema in the recent years. The long wait clubbed with the high quality standards that Mr. Khan seeks has created huge curiosity in trade circles ahead of its release in December 2006'. The Movie also features at rank 14 on the list of BBC's 50 Must Watch Movies before you die. Adds M N Kapasi, 'Apart from the National Awards, LAGAAN has won honours at all major film festivals including Locarno, Bergen, Leeds and European Film Festivals with the tally reaching 44 awards and 19 nominations. The Movie is also the first Bollywood production in 30 years to use synchronized sound making the DVD a must buy for connoisseurs of quality cinema.'

Interestingly the movie has foxed the piracy market over the years, with its pirated version almost non-existent and the satellite broadcast deal expired. The Movie also marks the consolidation of Excel Home Videos (a licensee for International biggies like Walt Disney, Twentieth Century Fox among others) in the Bollywood space. Says Aamir Khan, 'Excel's product expertise, innovative marketing, strong and penetrative distribution chain coupled with technological breakthroughs achieved in the home entertainment segment (Maiden DVD, Breakthrough in DVD Technology, etc.) in India, made it a clear choice for LAGAAN's Home Video debut.' Excel Home Videos has successfully released PARINEETA, CORPORATE and BANARAS among others in the Bollywood space. Nagesh Kukunoor's DOR will be also be released shortly by the label and is scheduled to carry bonus features viz. Audio Commentaries, Making Of, etc. Adds M N Kapasi, 'Corporatisation of Bollywood has affected sharper marketing activities, technological advancement in products, cost effective practices which has in-turn resulted in the entry of players like us with structural expertise in the category. LAGAAN will be a collector's item conforming to international state of the art standards and loads of never before seen features on the DVD. The Product will witness a grand launch by Producer and Actor Aamir Khan in December 2006.'