MUMBAI: UTV World Movies will start the theatrical releases of films from the first week of April. The channel, which had announced the plan of venturing into the theatrical release and home video segments at the time of launch, had deferred the plans due to exhibition hassles.

The channel has lined up a slew of movies to release in theatres across Mumbai, Delhi and Mangalore over a span of two months.

The movies to be screened in theatres are The Song of Sparrows (4 April), The Counterfeiters, La Zona, Murderers, I Always Wanted To Be A Gangster, Wrap Up and A Ton Of Luck. 

Says UTV World Movies business head Sameer Ganapathy, “When we started the UTV World Cinema channel, we had decided to tap the other two verticals. Though the Home Video section was launched last year, we had to defer theatrical release due to the exhibition problems in the wake of the multiplex strike.”

Meanwhile, UTV World Movies will also hold Arties festival in association with NCPA on 26 and 27 March, wherein an international band is scheduled to perform.

Adds Ganapathy, “It is a matter of privilege for UTV World Movies to be associated with this unique endeavour. Music lovers are in for a delight with the celebrated band Quatuor Eben of France belting out their finest numbers.”