It’s a Deal

This new venture follows close on the heels of the Group’s recent successful bid (through its subsidiary Entertainment & Sports Direct – ESD) for the theatrical and public venue rights of the next 10 seasons of the Indian Premier League. With City of Gold,Manjrekar is wielding the director’s baton,in Bollywood,after a gap of more than four years. During this long,voluntary sabbatical Manjrekar kept himself busy with his many acting assignments for films in a range of languages,apart from writing and producing several Marathi blockbusters,including Me Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy. “With City of Gold,I have finally found a subject that has got my creative juices flowing all over again. The film is a no-holds-barred look at the birth of the true underbelly and organized crime in Mumbai and at those who had to sacrifice so that the 21st century Mumbai of swanky malls and glittering multiplexes could be built – the mill workers.”

With the screenplay co-written by acclaimed playwright Jayant Pawar and Manjrekar,the movie doesn’t just tell the story of some of these mill workers whose lives were changed for ever,it actually features some of them in their very first on-screen appearances ever. And if set talk is to be believed,the authenticity of some of their performances has blown away even the big stars in the film – who are kept under wraps for now.

When asked for the reason,Manjrekar said,“It’s crucial to the vision of this movie,that the focus is on the story and not on the star,at least in the initial days. I want to make sure that people understand the sometimes cruel paradox of the lives of these people and why they were compelled to make the choices they made.”

He added,“It’s only once in a blue moon that you get such a compelling script – and that too based on real life incidents.” Commenting on why they chose to get into films,Arun Rangachari,Chairman,DAR Capital Group,said,“For the past three years or so,DAR Capital Group has been betting long on the Media & Entertainment industry in India. That this sector is poised for an unprecedented growth trajectory is a given,and understandably we want to be well placed to be an integral part of this success story.” City of Gold is scheduled to release in May 2010.