UTV Motion Pictures


UTV Motion Pictures was the feature film unit of UTV Software Communications founded by Ronnie Screwvala and Zarina Screwvala in 1996 as UTV Motion Pictures Plc., the film distribution division of UTV Software Communications. It was one of the leading film studios in India and one of the largest production studios in South Asia. The studio's activities spanned creative development, production, marketing, distribution, licensing, merchandising, and worldwide syndication of films in Indian territories. It was also a distribution label of The [Walt Disney Company India|Disney] for feature films produced by Disney Studios Motion Pictures">The Walt Disney Company India">Disney Studios Motion Pictures in the country.
UTV Motion Pictures had a library of domestic regional films and animation productions alongside select international productions with the studio moving into film production in Bollywood, and further expanding in Hollywood in partnership with studios such as 20th Century Studios, Walt Disney Pictures and Sony Pictures. In July 2017, UTV Motion Pictures closed down, shortly after the release of the film Jagga Jasoos, and planned to focus on its Hollywood films distribution and television and licensing and merchandising businesses through the banner, effectively pulling the plug on its Hindi film production.

Film productions and distribution

Films produced by UTV Motion Pictures

UTV Spotboy

The following films were produced under the UTV Spotboy banner.
YearFilmDirectorNotes
2008AamirRaj Kumar Gupta
2008Welcome to SajjanpurShyam BenegalCo-produced with IX Faces Pictures and Bindass
2009Dev.DAnurag KashyapCo-produced with Bindass
National Film Award for Best Music Direction
Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Film
2009KisaanPuneet SiraCo-produced with Sohail Khan Production
2009Aagey Se RightIndrajit NattojiCo-produced with Bindass
2010UdaanVikramaditya MotwaneNominated – Prize of Un Certain Regard at 2010 Cannes Film Festival
Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Film
2011No One Killed JessicaRaj Kumar GuptaNominated – Filmfare Award for Best Film
20117 Khoon MaafVishal BharadwajCo-produced with VB Films
2011Chillar PartyNitesh Tiwari and Vikas BahlCo-produced with Salman Khan Being Human Productions
National Film Award for Best Children's Film
2012Paan Singh TomarTigmanshu DhuliaNational Film Award for Best Feature Film
National Film Award for Best Actor
2012Luv Shuv Tey Chicken KhuranaSameer SharmaCo-produced with Anurag Kashyap Films and JAR Pictures
2013ShahidHansal MehtaCo-produced with Bohra Bros.
National Film Award for Best Direction
National Film Award for Best Actor
2013ABCD: Any Body Can DanceRemo D'Souza
2014FilmistaanNitin KakkarCo-produced with Satellite Pictures
National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi
2014PizzaAkshay AkkineniCo-produced with Getaway Films
Remake of 2012 Tamil film Pizza
2014Peter Gaya Kaam SeJohn OwenPremiered at Raindance Film Festival

Films only distributed

Unreleased/shelved films

  • Hook Ya Crook
  • Phillum City
  • Alibaba Aur 41 Chor
  • ''Shoebite''

    International films distribution in India

Walt Disney Studios films in India

UTV's distribution relations with Disney first began when in 2005, Miramax Films, then owned by The [Walt Disney Company], sold distribution rights to several films of their catalog in a 10-year deal; however it is currently unknown whether this deal continued even when Miramax was sold to Filmyard Holdings. In December 2008, following their purchase of a majority stake in UTV, The Walt Disney Company, which would later acquire the entirety of UTV Motion Pictures through UTV Software Communications in 2012, handed over exclusive distribution rights to their films in the Indian subcontinent, starting with Walt Disney Pictures' Bedtime Stories. UTV Motion Pictures became the exclusive distributor for all Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures releases for South Asian territories from 2013 onward. Distribution rights to 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight Pictures films continued to be handled by Fox Star Studios until late 2019 with The Art of [Racing in the Rain (film)|The Art of Racing in the Rain], when Buena Vista International began releasing the studios' films internationally and thus UTV acquired the distribution rights to their films in the Indian subcontinent, starting with Terminator: Dark Fate until 2024 with Alien: Romulus.

Non-Disney international films

YearFilmCountryIndian Release TitleNotes
2005UnleashedFrance
United Kingdom
Gulam BelagamReleased in both Original and Hindi Dubbed versions
Indian distribution only
2011Crayon Shin-chan: Jungle That Invites StormJapanShinchan in Bungle In The JungleAnimated Film
Originally released in 2000 in Japan
Hindi Dubbed Version
Indian distribution only
2011Doraemon: Nobita and the New Steel Troops—Winged AngelsJapanDoraemon in Nobita and the Steel Troops-The New AgeAnimated Film
Hindi Dubbed Version
Indian distribution only
2013Doraemon: Nobita and the Island of Miracles—Animal AdventureJapanDoraemon The Movie Nobita Aur Jadooi TapuAnimated Film
Originally released in 2012 in Japan
Hindi Dubbed Version
Indian distribution only