The Official Arbelos Films Thread

[moviegeek1992]

Originally Posted by Hindustani

The Guru Dutt Trilogy is a must

PYAASA (1957) (means PARCHED aka extremely thirsty)

SAHIB BIBI AUR GHULAM (1962) (means MASTER, MADAM and SERVENT)

KAAGAZ KE PHOOL (1959) in Cinemascope (means PAPER FLOWERS)



besides this.

Cinelicious Should look into....

SHOLAY (1975)(2014 Dolby Atmos release). Its a Kurasawa seven samurai bollywood curry wester. A landmark motion picture event in history of Bollywood. It recently was re-release after complete digital restoration, 3D tranfer and Dolby Atmos upgrade to its original 70mm 6-track stereophonic sound.



MUGHAL E AZAM (1960) (means THE GREAT MUGHALS). A BEN-HUR, GONE WITH THE WIND type epic. Brilliantly written, shot and acted. It went complete Digital Restoration in B & W and technicolor (partly shot in Technicolor) in 2004.


PAAKEEZAH (1972) in Cinemascope (means PURITY). Another early landmark, color "cinemascope" masterpiece on the courtesan culture similar to Geisha culture in east and lesser form of prostitution culture in the West. Film renouned for incredible performances, musical score and breath taking songs. Just recently went complete Digital Restoration by Shemaroo Studios based in Mumbai, India.

Criterion has been seriously missing out on rest of the Indian classics as they solely focus on Satyajit Ray's work only.

Cinelicious can make serious inroads into Classical Indian Cinema by releasing atleast 1 of the above mentioned 6 masterpieces.

There is a huge BluRay and future 4K UHD BluRay market for Classic Indian Cinema worldwide all the way upto Trinidad & Tobago in the west where there is still massive Indian diaspora.

Sorry, but I don't agree with this. There are many Indians or South East Asians all over the world but hardly many are interested in blu-rays let alone blu-rays of the films you have mentioned.

The Indian dvd industry is already in decline to the point where a title sometimes appears on TV the same time as it's dvd release. One of the biggest distributors for Bollywood films, Eros International (who released the first Bollywood blu-ray) have abandoned blu-ray in favour of their own on-demnd website, and another giant Shemaroo are probably seeing more revenue through ads as they slowly upload their catalogue to YouTube than dvd sales for those individual titles would have attained.

To top it all off, these distributors are extremely protective of their properties and are unlikely to license out to anyone else, Mughal-E-Azam and Sholay being prime examples.

Sure blu-ray labels can make deals with more independent filmmakers after their films appear at various film festivals for a blu-ray release beyond that if the respective rights owners don't release a blu-ray of the films you mentioned themselves, then it's never gonna happen. Think of this way, over in the US, every crappy movie makes its way to blu-ray (including Syfy channel schlock) yet the total number of Bollywood blu-rays probably isn't more than 150 (if that), and that's from 2007 till now!

[Craig-Rogers]

The BELLADONNA OF SADNESS trailer is finally here! Just dropped on vice.com

They seem to be pushing the "x-rated" "porn" angle awfully hard with their write up. For sure, it's a film for adults with adult themes, but porn? No. It's not pornography.



And no, the release of BELLADONNA did not immediately bankrupt Mushi. The fate of that company was already sealed when this film was being made. In fact an argument could be made that BELLADONNA OF SADNESS is the film it is because the company's fate was already known while making it. It freed the filmmakers up to push boundaries both thematically and artistically they very likely wouldn't have otherwise.

[Hindustani]

Originally Posted by moviegeek1992

Sorry, but I don't agree with this.

Partly agreed. There are few points you made. Those cannot be denied. You havent looked at the whole picture yet.

There are many Indians or South East Asians all over the world but hardly many are interested in blu-rays let alone blu-rays of the films you have mentioned.

I cannot talk much about Pakistanis, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankans as you said South Asian. Majority of Indians are cinemagoers not just hollywood but also for regional, local movies. Its a cultural & traditional thing. There is limited interest in BluRays and definitely not the craze like Hollywood.

If there is not enough craze for bollywood, european companies (REM, ALIVE) will not be releasing BluRays for latest bollywood flicks. Do not believe me? Go check out official REM website. Both Germany and France have been releasing BluRays regularly as latest as 2015 for Bollywood

The Indian dvd industry is already in decline to the point where a title sometimes appears on TV the same time as it's dvd release.

The world BluRay industry is in decline. Fair amout of ground has been lost to VoD. Even 4k UHD HDR recent movies & classics like SAN ANDREAS, BLACK MASS and GOODFELLAS have shown up in VoD in 4k UHD HDR long before BluRay.

One of the biggest distributors for Bollywood films, Eros International (who released the first Bollywood blu-ray) have abandoned blu-ray in favour of their own on-demnd website

EROS INTERNATIONAL is the worst example of how they have treated Bollywood recent mega blockbusters and Bollywood classics heritage. Best example is EROS despite holding the rights for most popular Bollywood blockbuster (SHOLAY) an equivalent of THE GODFATHER (popularity wise, not content wise), they failed to even release properly authored DVD and never bothered to release BluRay ever. And the movie has already gone massive digital restoration and Dolby Atmos upgrade as recent as 2014.

EROS treats Indian movies fans like they do not exist. Their only real interest is distributing the movies and getting foot falls into cinemas on opening weekend and week. After that, they do not give a damn about home videos. Their DVDs were some of the worse ever aurhored with the fanciest, most expensive covers. Its like gift wrapping garbage to fool audiences to sell DVDs for $20.

and another giant Shemaroo are probably seeing more revenue through ads as they slowly upload their catalogue to YouTube than dvd sales for those individual titles would have attained.

Shemaroo is the largest rights holder of Bollywood classics. But recently, they have been very friendly. They signed deal with Eagle Entertainment to have latter release few 1970s classics or past blockbusters. I myself own few of the shemaroo titles release by Eagle. They are of average quality but definitely digitally restored (shemaroo themselves do it in-house now) 1080p.

To top it all off, these distributors are extremely protective of their properties and are unlikely to license out to anyone else, Mughal-E-Azam and Sholay being prime examples.

Yes. they are protective. But. No true overseas professional company like CINELICIOUS or CRITERION has appropached them.

They might want to do one-off business with a company like CINELICIOUS on "First to 3000" BluRays basis. Any one of the above 6 titles mentioned if released on "first to 3000 blurays" basis will sell out even at $39.99 in a year. But no Indian overseas company is professional enough. This is where CRITERION or CINELICIOUS can step in fill the gap.

Think of this way, over in the US, every crappy movie makes its way to blu-ray (including Syfy channel schlock) yet the total number of Bollywood blu-rays probably isn't more than 150 (if that), and that's from 2007 till now!

YASH RAJ FILMS (YRF) BluRay branch releases BRs for even their recent garbage releases which flopped at the boxoffice. A recent movie (GUNDAY) rated 2/10 on IMDB is released by YRF on BD with "TrueHD Advance 96k Upsampling" 5.1 audio.

Brand new Digitally Restored print of PYAASA (means Parched) (1957) has recently been screened in Europe and Canada.

Indian Classic Pyaasa Restored for Upcoming Venice Film Fest

A company like CINELICOUS can benefit big time if they release this enormously popular B & W classic on BD25 which will be much cheaper.

Silicon Valley alone has 1 million Indian diaspora and Indian diaspora is some of the richest diaspora I have seen. They are the first adoptors of HDTV, 4K, UHD stuff.

[nitin]

Hindustani,

no offence, but are pipe dreaming again.

[Hindustani]

Originally Posted by nitin

Hindustani,

no offence, but are pipe dreaming again.

Dude.

No one is asking them to release every bolllywood hit.

CINELICIOUS has done an excellent job with GOW I,II BRD. I personally know atleast 5 indian families in North America (US and CAN)who brought GOW cinelicious BRD sets at $24.99 without hesitation. They brought this BR release after owning horrible, pathetic Eagle GOW I, II BRDs of 2013

All I am asking is they or any other professional company (unlike EROS which is opposite of professional model) catering to niche audiences to release already completed digitally restored SHOLAY with Dolby Atmos (2014 janulary re-release 3D print) as a 2017 Father Day Gift as 'first to 3000" basis only.

They will sell out even at $39.99 per BluRay.

[Craig-Rogers]

IN THEATERS

May 6-11, 2016 Metrograph New York, NY
May 6-11, 2016 Alamo Drafthouse – New Mission San Francisco, CA
May 13-19, 2016 The Cinefamily Los Angeles, CA
May 13-19, 2016 Alamo Drafthouse – South Lamar Austin, TX
May 13-19, 2016 Alamo Drafthouse – Littleton-Denver Denver, CO
May 13-19, 2016 Cable Car Cinema Providence, RI
May 13-19, 2016 Alamo Drafthouse – Vintage Houston Houston, TX
May 13, 2016 Texas Theater Dallas, TX
May 13-16, 2016 Brattle Theater Boston, MA
May 20-26, 2016 Northwest Film Forum Seattle, WA
May 20, 2016 Cinemapolis Ithica, NY
May 20, 2016 International House Philadelphia, PA
May 20, 2016 Alamo Drafthouse – El Paso El Paso, TX
May 20, 2016 Alamo Drafthouse – Lubbock Lubbock, TX
May 20-22, 2016 The Royal Cinem Toronto, Canada
May 20-26, 2016 Alamo Drafthouse Omaha Omaha, NB
May 20-26, 2016 Gateway Film Center Columbus, OH
May 20-26, 2016 Jean Cocteau Cinema Santa Fe, NM
May 27-29, 2016 Hollywood Theater Portland, OR
June 6-7, 2016 Trylon Microcinema Minneapolis, MN
June 10, 2016 Dryden Theatre Rochester, NY
June 15, 2016 Sun-Ray Cinema Jacksonville, FL

[Craig-Rogers]

Bigwig screening scheduled for 29feb to get their final sign off and then I'll be able to spill the beans on our next big restoration release.

[Wooden Lens]

Originally Posted by spiffnme

Bigwig screening scheduled for 29feb to get their final sign off and then I'll be able to spill the beans on our next big restoration release.

I'm anticipating that you guys are going to become one of the most exciting newer labels of the year!

[Andrew-Kenneth]

Originally Posted by moviegeek1992

One of the biggest distributors for Bollywood films, Eros International (who released the first Bollywood blu-ray) have abandoned blu-ray

Eros has not abandoned blu-ray.
Recent releases =>

In 2015 a total of 24 bollywood movies got released on blu-ray.
(not counting south indian cinema)

Originally Posted by moviegeek1992

the total number of Bollywood blu-rays probably isn't more than 150 (if that), and that's from 2007 till now!

Well, I own about 380 Indian blu-ray's and that's just my collection...