EXCLUSIVE: Lionsgate India teams up with Vikram Malhotra’s Abundantia Entertainment and Kavita Sharma Gandhi’s EFAR Films for two streaming films.
The company’s streamer, Lionsgate Play Asia, is collaborating with Airlift Producer Abundantia and content developer and distributor EFAR Films on the films, which are touted as a “genre-bending adventure” and “romantic comedy like no other.”
Details on the pictures are sparse, but the first will combine comedy with action in a story “that promises thrills and drama full of fun.” The romantic comedy will feature “lovable and unforgettable characters.” Scripting is underway for both, with “exciting, world-class creative talent” taking the lead.
For Lionsgate Play Asia, which operates in Southeast Asia, the pact is the latest in a series of deals that will raise its profile in a busy regional streaming market where the likes of Netflix, Prime Video, SonyLIV and Disney+ have a strong Subscriber base Local competitors such as Viu and ZEE5 Global are also important players.
Lionsgate Play first launched in India in 2020 with the aim of making Hollywood content available locally in multiple Indian languages. Original Hindi language films and films like have been added Letters to Mr. Khanna And Beginner to people like that dusk, John Wick And Hunger Games franchises in recent years.
“We are excited to work with Abundantia Entertainment and EFAR Films on two exciting upcoming projects,” said Rohit Jain, President of Lionsgate Play Asia. “The projects underscore our commitment to delivering innovative and culturally engaging films to audiences around the world, and we are excited to bring this to life for our audiences in India.” This is a testament to the power of compelling storytelling and the creative vision of our partners.”
Malhotra, Founder and CEO, Abundantia Entertainment, added, “At Abundantia Entertainment, we are committed to producing high-quality and engaging content that is unique to India and resonates with audiences across the globe. The two upcoming films fit this vision perfectly. We are excited to partner with major global studio Lionsgate and EFAR Films to bring these stories to life in India.”
Former COO of Viacom18 Motion Pictures, Malhotra, founded Abundantia eleven years ago and has now established itself as a major producer of theatrical and streaming content. His titles include infant, Airlift, Toilet – Ek Prem Katha, Shakuntala Devi And Chhorii and recently released drama-comedy film Yesalong with original series like Breathe, Breathe: Into the shadows And Hush, hush.
Sharma Gandhi, who founded EFAR (Everything For A Reason), is another former Viacom18 executive. There she worked at the film and television giant as Director of International Syndication, distributing film and television content from the likes of Colors and MTV to international buyers. She also held a senior position in HBO’s Asia division and was part of the team that launched Zoom TV. EFAR describes itself as capable of “managing film and OTT projects from conception to completion, concept development, script writing, casting and marketing”.
“We are pleased to be part of this exciting development together with Lionsgate and Abundantia Entertainment,” said Sharma Gandhi. “Our aim is to tell stories that are rooted in Indian ethos and culture and have a universal appeal. We look forward to working together to create an unforgettable cinematic experience through these creative projects and this unique partnership.”