Consider the staggering statistics: Indian media and Entertainment industry according to a CII A T Kearney report is projected to grow from its existing size of Rs 450 billion (Rs) to 1 trillion by 2011! The Indian Film Industry estimated to be worth 1.8 billion US $ in 2006 is expected to reach an impressive 4.4-5.1 billion (Rs 176-204 billion). Keeping in mind the impressive growth show business has shown in the decade since the industry status was conferred on it, it seemed an opportune moment to take stock and analyse whether corporatising Bollywood had indeed cured the film industry of all problems. It was time to look at the bigger picture and we did by kickstarting Screen The Big Picture series of debates that will identify and analyse emerging trends in showbiz.

So analyse we did, by bringing together Siddharth Roy Kapoor, CEO UTV Motion Pictures, Uday Singh, Executive Vice-President, Columbia Tristar Motion Picture Group, Shyam Shroff, director of Shringar Films and Fame theatres and filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar for a panel discussion about the changes ushered in, courtesy corporate institutions. There were some interesting insights, a few admissions and predictably a little hedging when it came to uncomfortable questions posed by the Screen team along with other members of the Express Group!

In all fairness, however, the session allowed us a glimpse at emerging trends in the industry. Yes, they are here to stay. The day of the star may be over but superstars will always rule and mostly on their own terms. Creativity and commerce make strange bedfellows but they can co-exist. Mom and pop production houses especially those who have got their content right or those that have gone in for mergers and public issues, will survive in the new scenario.

And while content remains king, marketing and spin doctoring are the new realities. The global conquest-of markets outside India remains an unfulfilled dream but movie moghuls stand optimistic. UK has fallen prey to Bollywood's charms and the US is under attack as are Germany and France, but worldwide fame is still some distance away.

What the arrival of corporate set-ups has done is made financing easier for both producers and filmmakers by edging out the unscrupulous financier. The contradiction is that while companies with deep pockets can sustain themselves even after producing both conventional and experimental films, the need for healthy profits makes even them opt for safe films with stars.

These are early days yet, but with each session of Screen The Big Picture, we promise to keep you informed of future trends.

ON THE PANEL

Shyam Shroff
Director, Shringar Films and Fame Theatres
The winner of the Screen Best Distributor trophy for exemplary expansion of family business of film exhibition via the Fame multiplex chain. The group has distributed films from Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi right upto the Munnabhai series and the first Pak release Khuda Kay Liye.

Uday Singh
Executive Vice-President, Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group
He spearheaded the Sony Pictures Entertainment India chapter, launching Saawariya, the maiden Hindi production of Sony with acclaimed director Sanjay Leela Bhansali. He greenlights Indian productions under the banner of SPE.

Siddharth Roy Kapoor
CEO, UTV Motion Pictures
He headed several marketing initiatives of the UTV Group in India and abroad and has been instrumental in co-production and distribution enterprise of films such as Khosla Ka Ghosla, Life…In A Metro and Jodhaa Akbar.

Madhur Bhandarkar
Filmmaker
A noted filmmaker with seven films to his credit. Of these, he's won National awards for Chandni Bar and Page 3. Celebrated for his realistic cinema, he's currently shooting for Fashion, based on the grime and glamour behind the world of modelling.