DQ Entertainment (DQE), the internationally acclaimed and AIMS listed animation and entertainment company, has acquired a 50 per cent stake in the film, which is being readied for a summer release. With this, DQE makes a foray into the live action Bollywood market, though it has worked, and is working on some of the world's biggest animated projects.

The movie is directed by Chandrakant Kulkarni and the screenplay is given by Soumik Sen. The movie is based on an idea by Raj Kaushal. Meerabai Not Out stars Mandira Bedi, who portrays the character of a brilliant maths teacher obsessed with cricket. Anil Kumble plays himself in his first ever appearance in a movie. The films marks the Bollywood debut of television star Eijaz Khan.

The comedy venture also stars Anupam Kher and Mahesh Manjrekar in leading roles. It features a musical score by Sandesh Shandilya. “We could not be more excited to partner with Pritish Nandy Communications and DQ Entertainment on this enchanting romantic comedy,” said Schindler. He added, “This acquisition is precisely the kind of strong material that is the cornerstone of our local language initiative. When we find motion pictures as wonderful and engaging as this, we will aggressively pursue it.”

Says Pritish Nandy, chairman, PNC, “This is a breakthrough production and we are delighted to take it global through SPE Films India and DQ Entertainment, our partners for this charming romantic comedy cast against the backdrop of cricket, our national passion. Mandira herself is a die-hard cricket fan and Anil Kumble makes his debut in Bollywood with this film. So does Eijaz Khan who migrates from TV to the big screen. This is also Chandrakant Kulkarni's first Hindi feature and we are proud to bring his talent before the mainstream audiences.”

Tapaas Chakravarti, chairman and CEO of DQ Entertainment, said, “Meerabai Not Out is a film we are delighted to partner with PNC and feel so good that SPE will take this beautiful romancing with cricket global. We plan to partner for many more such well scripted and researched films as we go along, to explore the creative opportunities that bridge animation and live action. Smart films like Meerabai Not Out excites us because we believe that this is where the future of Bollywood lies and PNC dose cater to this need well.

“This is the kind of intelligent and successful cinema we would like to associate with and the very fact that a conglomerate of the stature of Sony Pictures has acquired the film for worldwide release through SPE Films India. This shows the kind of credibility that Indian cinema has now acquired globally. DQE will add further value of bringing its expertise in animation, gaming and other spin-offs as and when the partners will desire so.”

“This is the first of several movies that we hope to do with PNC and we are confident that Meerabai Not Out will be a hit with cricket lovers all over. Sony has several established platforms in India - in television, theatrical distribution, music and home videos - and our global reach is well known. We intend to put all these behind the film and make it one of this summer’s biggest attractions.”

Pritish Nandy Communications and DQ Entertainment recently announced that the two companies would jointly pool their skill sets and creative expertise to make a slate of animation and live action movies for global audiences.