Mumbai, July 30 (UNI) Bollywood star and filmmaker Aamir Khan has taken a groundbreaking step redefining film distribution by announcing the global release of his latest feature, “Sitaare Zameen Par”, on YouTube Movies-on-Demand, so that the film can reach every corner of the world in an affordable and easy way.
Lunching worldwide on August 1, the film will be available in 38 countries, including the US, Canada, UK, Australia, Germany, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore and Spain. As part of an effort to democratise access to quality cinema, the film will be priced at an affordable Rs 100 in India, with equivalent local pricing in other languages.
Aamir Khan said, “For the past 15 years I have been struggling with the challenge of how to reach audiences who do not have geographical access to theatres, or those who are unable to make it to theatres for various reasons. Finally the time for the perfect storm has come.
“With our government bringing in UPI and India becoming no 1 in the world in electronic payments, with internet penetration in India having grown dramatically and growing everyday, and with YouTube being on most devices, we can finally reach vast sections of people in India, and a significant part of the world,” he said.
Khan views this approach to film distribution as more than a one-time experiment. “I’m hoping that this will be the blueprint for my future slate, because I feel this is the best way that I would like to reach my audience,” he says. “I would like to have a healthy theatrical release, and then I would like to be present on digital, on YouTube, on a video on demand basis.”
Directed by RS Prasanna and written by Divya Nidhi Sharma, “Sitaare Zameen Par” stars Aamir Khan opposite Genelia D’Souza and introduces ten debutant actors, offering a platform to new talent.
