New Delhi, Sep 3 (UNI) After tasting success in Mumbai film industry with 'Rang De Basanti', 'Khosla Ka Ghosla, 'The Namesake' and 'Life In a Metro', UTV Motion Pictures (UTVM) is all set to make a huge impact in the South Indian film fraternity with a slate of film production and distribution deals in the Telugu film industry, India's second largest film market after Hindi movies.

In what marks a huge foray by the company in the Telugu film industry, UTVM has signed on the Telegu superstar Mahesh Babu, one of the most bankable stars in Andhra Pradesh, for two productions, the first of which will go on the floors within the next six months.

Notably, Mahesh Babu's last film 'Pokiri', in which he played the lead, is the highest grosser in the history of the Telugu film industry.

Besides, UTVM has signed a deal with Indira Productions to co-produce two films, one of which will star Mahesh Babu in the lead role.

Further, UTVM also announced that it had acquired the Andhra Pradesh distribution rights for one of the most awaited Telugu movies of 2007, 'Atithi', starring Mahesh Babu and Amrita Rao. The film is set for release in October 2007.

UTV's foray in Telugu films is the first time that a corporate from the Mumbai film industry is making such a big entry in the South Indian film industry.

''This is the first time a corporate from the Hindi film industry is entering the Telugu film space in such a big way,''said G Ramesh Babu Krishna Productions Private Limited, Producer of 'Atithi'.

The Telugu film industry feels that UTV's success in the Mumbai film industry with films like 'Rang De Basanti', 'Khosla Ka Ghosla' and 'Life In a Metro', succeeding in earning box office success as well as critical acclaim would help improve the fortunes of the Telugu film industry.

Hitherto, the corporates engaged in the film distribution in Andhra Pradesh had restricted their buying to selected circuits. All this is, however, set to change with entry of UTV, which has a huge distribution network across the country as well as abroad.

Manjula and Sanjay Cota of Indira Productions, with whom UTV had signed a deal to co-produce two films, said, ''UTV has managed to bring about a structured corporate approach to filmmaking in the past three to four years. Initiatives like these have helped the Bollywood get 'industry' status and the Telugu film industry is sure to gain from UTV Motion Pictures' expertise in this area.'' ''With the great work UTV has done in Hindi films, we are happy to get into an agreement with them,''the filmmakers added.

UTVM, on its part, felt that its entry into the Telugu film market would help to serve as a launch pad in a ''very exciting market''.

The Chief Operating Officer of UTV Motion Pictures Plc, Siddharth Roy Kapur, said, ''After our foray into the Tamil film industry with our first Tamil production due for release in September, we are happy to be making inroads into the Telugu film industry with these production, distribution and artiste deals.'' ''Mahesh Babu is one of India's foremost superstars and our association with him as well as our co-production venture with Indira Productions coupled with our distribution acquisition of 'Atithi', gives us a great launch pad in this very exciting market,'' he added.

With movie being the major form of entertainment, Andhra Pradesh boasts of the highest number of movie theaters in the country.

UNI