In addition to its Hollywood slate, Sony Pictures is increasing its investment in Indian theatrical projects and has expanded its footprint in regional cinema with projects in Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam.
NEW DELHI: Sony Pictures Entertainment has announced its new leadership team for the Indian film industry, with Shony Panjikaran and Lada Guruden Singh leading the company’s distribution and production verticals.
Singh has been named general manager and director of Sony Pictures International Productions (SPIP) in India. He will be in charge of SPIP India’s local film development and production slate, as well as its regional cinema expansion. Singh will report to SPIP co-chairs Michael Rifkin and Shebnem Askin.
Panjikaran has been named general manager and chief executive officer of Sony Pictures Releasing International, India. He will oversee Sony Pictures’ theatrical business in India, including distribution, sales, and marketing efforts for both Hollywood and local films. Panjikaran will report to Adam Herr, Sony Pictures Entertainment’s senior vice president of distribution in Asia.
Sony Pictures, in addition to its Hollywood slate, has committed to further investment in Indian theatrical projects and has expanded its footprint in regional cinema, including Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam projects, according to a statement.
“It is an honor to oversee SPE’s theatrical business in India and to bring a slate of Hollywood and Indian films to Indian audiences.” “Today, the film market in India is virtually borderless, and I am looking forward to pioneering new initiatives and partnerships in this dynamic distribution space, as well as satisfying India’s demand for brilliant global and local stories,” Panjikaran said in a statement.
Singh has worked for Sony Pictures Entertainment since 2014 in a variety of capacities including public relations, marketing, and creative development. He has worked on films such as Piku, PadMan, 102 Not Out, and Looop Lapeta, as well as leading the studio’s expansion into Malayalam and Telugu with 9 and the recent biopic Major.
Over the last four years, Panjikaran has led Sony Pictures Entertainment India’s marketing initiatives, assisting in the launch of films such as Spider-Man: No Way Home, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Jumanji: The Next Level, Venom, and Major. He also worked for Fox Star Studios for ten years, where he oversaw marketing efforts for films such as Avatar, Life of Pi, Deadpool, Sanju, Baaghi 2, Raja Rani, and others.
