India's costliest movie I to be released in 10,000 screens in China

Producer hopes to mobilise Rs 1,500 crore for the film

India's costliest movie I is expected to be released across 15,000 screens worldwide. In China alone, the movie is likely to be released across 10,000 screens, that too in Chinese language, making it the first such Indian film.

Aascar V Ravichandran, producer and distributor of the movie, said the movie would have cost him around Rs 220 crore. He is confident that the move would rake in about Rs 1,500 crore. He declined to share the break-up in terms of his expectations from box office collection, rights and other revenue modes, stating that in the coming weeks the company would be able to share all those details.

He added, "We are in talks with one of the top three distribution companies to release the movie in various parts of the world."

"The movie is all about happiness and excitement," said Ravichandran. Interestingly, Ravichandran is someone who has never come out in the public, even his photographs will not be available in the public domain and one would wonder if this is the man who has churned out mega blockbusters such as Anniyan and Dasavatharam. He was missing in the stage during the audio launch at Chennai last week. Special invitees include Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rajinikanth and other crew members of the movie.

The movie was produced in about 2.5 years, says Ravichandran. The company employed about 10,000 people for the film.

In terms of cost of production, I, starring Vikram and Amy Jackson, beats Dhoom 3, Chennai Express, Robot (Enthiran in Tamil) and Krrish 3 when it comes to the total cost of production. Shankar directed the movie and the music composed by Oscar winner A R Rahman.

He says, "unimaginably it (the movie) will run and will be talked the way movies like Enter the Dragon, Jurassic Park and other movies were spoken and even now people are seeing it."

The movie, which is expected to hit the screens around Diwali time, will be released across 165 countries and across in six languages including Tamil, Telegu, Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada and in Chinese. "In many parts of the World the movie will be simultaneously the movie will be screened," he said.

In rest of the countries such as Taiwan, Europe, the US and others, the movie will be released with sub-titles, he said. "Language will not be a barrier for this movie," said Ravichandran, who refused to share the company's name.

As far as releasing in China is concerned, Ravichandran said half of the movie was shot in China. He claims that this will be the first Indian movie to be released in such a large scale. There are about 30,000 theaters in China.