Priyadarshan and Woodpecker strike a 100 crore deal

Four Frames the decade old production house of the foremost film maker with the best strike rate, Priyadarshan, has struck a major breakthrough US 20 million $ (approximately Rs 100 Crore) deal, with a U.S based Entertainment Fund, Woodpecker Holding Inc. USA through their Indian subsidiary company, Woodpecker Pictures and Entertainment Ltd .

As per the arrangement agreed upon between the two companies, Four Frames have been assigned to produce on behalf of Woodpecker Holdings, 2 Hindi Feature Films.

Both the films will be directed by Priyadarshan himself.

To further consolidate its association with Four Frames, Woodpecker is also in negotiations for a mainstream international movie with a Top Hollywood Cast to be shot in Mexico, which Priyadarshan would be directing as part of the third project of this joint venture.

Throwing light on the joint venture, Priyadarshan confirmed the deal saying, "Yes, we at Four Frames have entered into an infrastructural and investment joint venture, wherein Woodpecker will be forwarding the entire investments for the desired productions, which Four Frames will produce on their behalf."

The Chief Architect and Promoter of Woodpecker Holdings Inc. USA, Mr. Rajesh Bhatia, elaborates the enterprises, "Whilst observing the rough weather many Corporates recently experienced in the Indian entertainment industry, we at Woodpecker decided to put our initial investments under a single dependable and dedicated umbrella. There could be no seat-belt safer than Priyadarshan, to secure our ride in this roller-coaster business."

The first Woodpecker-Four Frames Production goes on floors in April 2010 with a start-to-finish 60 days schedule in Chennai and Europe. While the second film will be still another start-to-finish venture between September and December 2010.

So looks like Woodpecker has monopolized Priyadarshan for 2010.

When asked to divulge details on the starcast for both the films, Rajesh Bhatia revealed, "For us Priyadsarshan is our trump card. And biggest Star. The rest of the creative decisions from casting to concepts are solely at his discretion."

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