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Big B's AB Corp to focus on quality movies

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Agencies

Posted: Nov 20, 2009 at 1502 hrs IST

Mumbai Amitabh Bachchan's film production company AB Corp, which was on the brink of bankruptcy some time back, is looking for a revival with upcoming film 'Paa' and Bollywood megastar says that their mantra this time is to "do little but good work".

Directed by R Balakrishnan of 'Cheeni Kum' fame, the film will see Abhishek Bachchan playing reel-life father to Big B, who will be seen as a 13-year-old suffering from progeria, a rare disease of premature ageing among children.

"AB Corp has minimised its field of activity. We want to keep the company strong and hold hands and work. We are happy doing our small little things," Bachchan said in an interview.

"We have been making films since 1995. Our recent films have been 'Virrudh' with Mahesh Manjrekar and 'Family' with Rajkumar Santoshi. 'Paa' comes after a gap. We didn't find a good opportunity in between," he said.

Slated to release on December 4, Bachchan said the film has been produced on a budget of Rs 15 crores.

The first corporate entity in the Hindi film industry to produce movies since 1995, AB Corp, earlier known as Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited (ABCL) has seen several highs and lows to survive the entertainment world.

"We were the first to become a Corporation. We are lauded and criticised. After five years, many such companies came up and Corporatisation suddenly become a big thing and the ultimate way of how entertainment industry should function," the actor said.

The production company suffered huge losses after films like 'Tere Mere Sapne' and 'Mrityudaata' bombed at the box office.

Bachchan admits that "Lack of knowledge at distribution and exhibition and managerial skills brought the company on the brink of financial disaster. We were not good at managing it. We did not know distribution and exhibition."

"But now we are out of the red," he added.

On its tie up with Reliance Big Pictures, Bachchan said, "Paa has been jointly produced by the two companies. We don't know distribution, exhibition, financing and production and they don't know creativity.. so we will work together and share profits."

The superstar also agreed that marketing and film promotions assumed bigger role because the business has become large and focussed.

"The film has to earn money in the first two weeks. The system of silver, golden jubilee is over. We have to sell our product and there is excessive amount of entertainment that is present in our lives today... Marketing has become important ingredient," he said.

"Earlier we did not have television and competition. Films ran for several weeks in theatres. Amar Akbar Anthony ran for 25 weeks in 15 theatres of Mumbai alone," Big B said.

Umesh Kulkarni's Marathi film 'Vihir' is AB Corp's next production which will release in January.

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PAA by Sumit Sharma on 07 Dec 2009

Hie AB u in d shoe of Auro waz like a critical mile stone in the part of ur life whch couldnt have been possible even 4 a great artist to put life in a role like that which is ...

good luck! by sarina on 26 Nov 2009

Amitabh Bachan was and is the greatest actor of Indian cinema, no doubt his venture into new territory with the film " Paa" will be well received. I think, many new actors lack the dedication, skill, and artistic vision and just follow formula filmaking. For example, Shah Rukh and Salman are repeatedly shown as romance hereos and could not pull off a movie like Black or Sarkar. sarina

ALL THE BEST by Colonel Nirmal Mahajan , EME, Veteran on 20 Nov 2009

WISHING AMITABH BACHHAN THE VERY BEST FOR ABCL...WE ALL HOPE ALL FOUR BACHHANS HAVE EXCELLENT REVIVAL OF ABCL AND PRODUCE QUALITY MOVIES TO ENTERTAIN MILLIONS OF THEIR FANS IN INDIA AND ABROAD.COLONEL NIRMAL MAHAJAN, DEHRADUN...

Copycat! by Manish Nayak on 20 Nov 2009

How? By ripping quality Hollywood movies?

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