Paladin to Distribute a Brett Ratner Presented English Bollywood Film?

There are so many items in this press release that you wouldn’t normally see paired together. First we have Brett Ratner lending his name and “expertise” to a Bollywood production that was filmed in the U.S. And then we have Mark Urman’s Paladin distribution label on board. Paladin has sort of been puttering around, unable to gain any ground with their half dozen releases including The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond and The Greatest — which have been their biggest money makers to date but the box office culls have fallen in the paltry 30 grand range. There might be some bling to make out of Kites: The Remix — if they push it the Big Fat Greek Wedding way — cater first and foremost to the communities that spend their entertainment dollars on Bollywood films and then worry about lassoing other demos. The film will be released on May 21st on about 2000 screens globally with 200 in the States. Here are portions of the press release:..

Shot completely on location in Las Vegas, Sante Fe and Los Angeles, KITES is a unique ‘Bollywood’ film in a number of ways, not the least of which is the fact that a reworked English language version, designed to extend the reach of the original, will be launched in select engagements one week later. Entitled KITES: THE REMIX, it is being presented by Brett Ratner, who oversaw its creation.

Produced on an epic scale, and set primarily against the lavish backdrop of Las Vegas, KITES tells the story of two star-crossed lovers who are destined to be together even though each is betrothed to another. Indian superstar Roshan, plays “J,” a charming hustler looking to make a big score, and Mori, the renowned Mexican actress (best known in America for the 2005 hit “La Mujer De Mi Hermano”), plays Linda, a beautiful immigrant with dreams of marrying a rich American. Their romance is described in the film as a love that “knows no language,” an apt description of KITES itself, which has more international appeal than more traditional Bollywood films.

Officially billed as “A Brett Ratner Presentation,” Ratner’s version of KITES is, as its title suggests, a true “remix,” in that it is the same film, played to a different rhythm, running a swift 90 minutes as opposed to the 130–minute original. One of the leading action directors working in the industry today, Ratner is credited with taking Asian action star Jackie Chan and crossing him over into American superstardom with his spectacularly successful “Rush Hour” series. In much the same way, KITES: THE REMIX will target younger, hipper, more action-oriented crowd than the original.