Universal opens Indian office

LONDON -- Universal Pictures Int'l. is opening a theatrical distribution operation in India. The announcement, which was created by UPI prexy David Kosse on Thursday, can be a move that expects to make use of the nation's growing appetite for worldwide cinema. The Mumbai branch will probably be headed up by controlling director Sarabjit Singh, who'll account to Duncan Clark, UPI prexy of distribution. Singh spent more than ten years with Vital Films of India (UIP) as gm and customers, marketing and distribution professional. He orchestrated the release of 276 films from U and Componen, and was instrumental in showing dubbing of photos from your languages. He'll bring U's 2012 slate for the territory, including tentpole photos for instance "Battleship," "Snow White-colored as well as the Huntsman" and "47 Ronin."The Mumbai office marks UPI's 14th worldwide operating company since it moved on in the partnership with Componen in 2007. "Creating methods in India is an ambition of UPI, with 2012 getting us possibly Universal's best slate in many years, we've high aspirations for your market," mentioned Kosse. With different study by PricewaterhouseCoopers, there has been 75 foreign photos released in India a year ago, creating greater than $81 million, a 33% increase of box office when compared with the prior year. Hollywood photos taken care of for 4% to total film industry revenues in India this season, several that's prone to increase. Contact Diana Lodderhose at diana.lodderhose@variety.com