Sony Movie Channel Dances to the Beat of "Bollywood Masala"

CULVER CITY, Calif., Aug. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sony Movie Channel will hold a weeklong musical event honoring the best of Bollywood November 6-12, 2011. Dubbed "Bollywood Masala," the series will debut on the Sony Movie Channel, Sunday, November 6th and will run throughout the week, the announcement was made today by Superna Kalle, general manager, Sony Movie Channel.

"Bollywood is known for its epic stories, beautiful scenery and show stopping musical numbers," said Sony Movie Channel general manager, Superna Kalle. "India also has the largest film industry in the world, and we're proud to offer these Bollywood favorites to film lovers on the Sony Movie Channel. Good cinema has universal appeal."

"Bollywood Masala" will showcase a handful of beloved Bollywood films from the past thirty years showcasing the talents of Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit, Shahrukh Khan and Anil Kapoor. This vibrant array of Bollywood cinema will highlight India's unique sense of story-telling, plethora of talent and show-stopping musical numbers. Such movies are often called masala films and are a mixture of action-adventure, comedy, mystery, romance, songs, thrills and villains all in one movie. The series, which will be hosted by "The Big Bang Theory" recurring guest star, Aarti Mann, will include the following titles:

"Amar Akbar Anthony" (1977) – Abandoned in a park by their father, Amar (Vinod Khanna), Akbar (Rishi Kapoor) and Anthony (Amitabh Bachchan) grow up independently and have no knowledge of one another. They're reunited as adults when, by coincidence, they all give blood at the same hospital. The three brothers soon band together to seek vengeance on the man (Jeevan) ultimately responsible for their childhood separation in this comic caper. Directed by Monmohan Desai.

"Tezaab" (1988) – Patriotic soldier turned criminal Munna – also known as Mahesh Deshmukh (Anil Kapoor) – falls in love with Mohini (Madhuri Dixit) in this classic Bollywood drama. Mohini's alcoholic father (Anupam Kher) forces her to dance in order to fund his addictions. But Munna is determined to save Mohini from her destructive life. Highlights include Dixit's performance of the song "Ek Do Teen," which became a huge hit. Chunkey Pandey and Mandakini co-star. Directed by N. Chandra.

"Dil" (1990) – Raja (Aamir Khan) has an opportunistic father, Hazari (Anupam Kher), who wants him to marry rich. So Hazari poses as a business tycoon, making it possible for Raja to marry the daughter (Madhuri Dixit) of a millionaire. There's just one problem: the young "lovers" can't stand each other – and when they begin to develop true feelings, the charade is revealed. This award-winning comedy features the hit song "Aaj Na Chodenge" by Anand and Milind. Directed by Indra Kumar.

"Hum" (1991) – Ruthless gangster Bakhtawar (Danny Denzongpa) targets dockyard union organizer Tiger (Amitabh Bachchan) for death, but he is beaten to the punch by corrupt cop Girdhar (Anupam Kher), who frames Tiger for another crime, forcing Tiger to flee until he can clear his name. Years later, Tiger gets his chance to set things straight, only to have his own brother take up the case against him. Mukul Anand directs this thrilling action-drama.

"Beta" (1992) – Lakshmi (Aruna Irani) has married a rich widower with a young son (Anil Kapoor) – and she and her greedy brother (Anupam Kher) are plotting to grab all of his money. At first, the son is kept at bay by his stepmother's nefarious plot. But when he marries the vigilant Saraswathi (Madhuri Dixit), the young couple sets out to make things right. Directed by Indra Kumar.

"Khuda Gawah" (1993) – Afghan warrior Badshah Khan (Amitabh Bachchan) falls in love with Benazir (Sridevi), a woman from a neighboring clan, when she beats him in a game of buzkashi. But before she'll marry him, Benazir demands that he kill Habibulla, the man who murdered her father. Badshah's mission lands him in an Indian prison, makes him a target of Habibulla's vengeful brother, Pasha (Kiran Kumar) and separates him from his beloved Benazir. Directed by Makul Anand.

"Karan Arjun" (1995) – When a dying feudal landowner tries to bequeath his property to his widowed daughter-in-law, Durga (Rakhee Gulzar), his nephew (Amrish Puri) murders her sons: Karan (Salman Khan) and Arjun (Shahrukh Khan). But thanks to Durga's piety for the goddess Kali, the boys are reincarnated. Unfortunately, the brothers now belong to two different families. Flashbacks from their former lives ultimately reunite them with their mother, and together they plot revenge. Directed by Rakesh Roshan.

"Kahoo Naa… Pyaar Ha" (2000) – Life is paradise for an upright young man and a sweet-natured girl – until fate intervenes. Separated by circumstances beyond their control, the girl is in a state of shock. Unable to deal with losing her beloved, she travels across the seven seas. As she tries to erase her dream-like memories, she encounters a young man who is much like her former love. Directed by Rakesh Roshan.

"Parineeta" (2005) – Based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhye's novel set in early-1960s Calcutta, this romantic drama centers on childhood friends Lolita (Vidya Balan) and Shekhar (Saif Ali Khan), who both struggle with difficult family situations and through the years, they grow closer. They truly come to rely on each other, and when a wealthy man (Sanjay Dutt) pursues Lolita, Shekhar finally realizes he's madly in love with her. Directed by Pradeep Sarkar.

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Sony Movie Channel is the first U.S. multi-platform television network from Sony Pictures Television created specifically for the Hollywood movie fan. Offering uncut and uninterrupted theatrical releases in stunning high definition, Sony Movie Channel showcases titles from Sony Pictures' vast library including award-winning features, cult favorites, family comedies and gripping dramas. Programming is selected from more than 3,500 Sony Pictures films, which collectively have received 184 Academy Awards including 12 for Best Picture. Sony Movie Channel is available on DISH Network, DIRECTV and AT&T U-Verse TV on linear as well as on authenticated VOD and online platforms.

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Sony Pictures Television (SPT) is one of the television industry's leading content providers. It produces and distributes programming in every genre, including series, telefilms, theatrical releases and family entertainment around the world and for every platform: broadcast and cable television, first-run and off-network syndication and digital distribution. In addition to one of the industry's largest libraries of feature films and television shows, SPT boasts a current program slate that includes the top-rated daytime dramas and game shows, landmark off-network series, original animated series and critically acclaimed primetime dramas, comedies and telefilms. Internationally, SPT is a leader in local language productions around the world, some of which are co-produced with local partners, and sells SPE-owned formats in approximately 70 countries. To better serve its clients and partners worldwide, SPT maintains offices throughout the world, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, the People's Republic of China, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Venezuela and the United Kingdom. SPT's worldwide television networks portfolio is a key strategy in SPE's long-range commitment to the global marketplace, with 122 channel feeds, which are available in more than 140 countries reaching almost 438 million households worldwide. SPT also creates original content for and manages SPE's premium video website, Crackle. Additionally, SPT owns Dutch entertainment company 2waytraffic, production company Embassy Row and an HD movie channel, and is a part owner of cable channel GSN, a new 3D channel joint venture with Discovery and IMAX, FEARnet, the premier horror/thriller website and VOD service, and national media sales company ITN Networks, Inc. SPT advertiser sales is one of the premiere national advertising sales companies, handling the commercial inventory in SPT's syndicated series as well as in all of SPE's digital businesses in the United States. SPT (www.sonypicturestelevision.com) is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company.

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