Mumbai-based Reliance Big Pictures has sold action title Ghajini to Korea’s Activers Entertainment and a quartet of pictures to Chinese broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV).

The deals are unusual in that East Asian territories rarely buy Indian product, although some titles are released directly to cinemas or screening venues catering to the overseas Indian audience.

Activers acquired theatrical, broadcasting and digital rights to Ghajini, starring Aamir Khan and Asin, which according to a Reliance statement marks the first time that an Indian action film has been acquired by a Korean distributor.

CCTV acquired the broadcast and digital rights to recent hits 13B, Luck By Chance, Karzzzz and Rock On!!

“Its encouraging that we’re now seeing sales in non-traditional territories where Indian films don’t normally go,” said Jawahar Sharma, COO of international film business at Big Pictures. “We’d like to see a situation in countries like Korea and China where you could sell around 7-10 Indian movies a year to the market rather than just one-off deals.”

Sharma added that around 16 festivals have selected Big Pictures titles from both its arthouse and mainstream slates which were launched at Cannes this year.

The Shanghai International Film Festival recently screened thriller 13B, Durban took Rituparno Ghosh’s Afterword and the upcoming Montreal World Film Festival will screen Shyam Benegal’s Well Done Abba and Shaji Karun’s Kutty Srank.

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