Oscar winner Million Dollar Baby to debut on STAR Movies

Barely have the scenes of Clint Eastwood and Hillary Swank holding their proud Oscars faded from the live telecast by STAR Movies that the English movie channel has acquired exclusive rights to 'Million Dollar Baby', the triumphant winner of four major Oscars awards.

But that's not the only reason why STAR Movies is smiling. Besides Client Eastwood directed Million Dollar Baby, the channel has won the telecast rights for Oscar winners 'Sideways' and 'Finding Neverland' as well.

In addition, STAR Movies has also got the rights to air Shrek 2, the highest grossing movie of 2004 with whopping $900 million collections worldwide in 2004.

The acquisition of the telecast rights of these movies, according to Ajay Vidyasagar, senior-vice president, marketing & PR, STAR, reiterates the channel's commitment towards bringing the best of Hollywood to Asia.

Vidyasagar says, “Along with the recent renewal of the Oscars ceremony telecast rights, the broadcast of the four Oscar-winning movies on STAR Movies will further enrich television entertainment for viewers in the region.”

In fact, STAR Movies had been negotiating for the acquiring the telecast rights of these movies since December 2004. And on Monday, the channel got its deal sewed up. The news of the acquisition could not have come at a better time. Million Dollar Baby has just been adjudged as the Best Picture at the Academy Awards.

Million Dollar Baby, the much-lauded boxing drama, took home awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor.

Sideway's list of achievements is no less. Having swept the Independent Spirit Awards the day before the Oscars, the film bagged an Oscar for Adapted Screenplay. It had also received nominations for Best Picture, Alexander Payne for Best Director, Thomas Haden Church for Best Actor in a supporting role, Virginia Madsen for Best Actress in a Supporting role and also Best Writing.

Finding Neverland nabbed a statuette for Original Score along with nominations for Johnny Depp for Best Actor, Best Music, Best Picture, Best Writing and Best Film Editing.

STAR Movies assures that it will be telecasting the movies very soon.

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