Goal, Jodhaa Akbar unveiled at Cannes

Ashutosh Gowariker's most eagerly awaited film,

Jodha Akbar

, starring hotties Aishwarya Rai and Hrithik Roshan, was unveiled here at the 60th Cannes Film Festival along with the John-Bipasha starrer

Goal.

At a glittering function at Cannes, with Bollywood actors John Abraham and Bipasha Basu present for the screening, UTV CEO Ronnie Screwvala also announced the re-release of

Rang De Basanti

in UK in English version, under the name of

Colour of Sacrifice

.

The film, which has been re-edited, will be released in select theatres and on DVD.

It was the first time that

Goal

and

Jodha Akbar

were showcased before the media and the public. The films are scheduled to hit the theatres in 2007.

Dealing with a "hitherto untouched" love story between Mughal prince Akbar and his queen Jodhabai,

Jodha Akbar

is one of the most awaited films of 2007. The film promises to be a classic entertainer after the extensive research that the entire team has put in bringing alive on celluloid the life of the historic characters.

Trade sources said at least three distributors of Indian films in South Africa, Germany, and Poland expressed interest in the film.

The other film

Goal

, featuring John Abraham and Bipasha Basu in lead roles, is a sports action drama based on an Asian soccer league team. The film has been shot entirely in the UK.

Goal

stars Bipasha Basu, Arshad Warsi and Boman Irani. In it, John plays Sunny Bhasin, a UK-born Indian who plays for a Southall football club.

Speaking on the occasion, UTV CEO Ronnie Screwvala said Indian cinema was changing. "Indian cinema has of late been dealing with new concepts and innovative story telling techniques,"he said.

On the occasion, he also announced the release of English version of

Rang De Basanti

for the international market. Called

Colour of Sacrifice

, the English version of the film would be of two hour and five minute duration and would be released in UK later this year.

"Both

Goal

and

Jodha Akbar

have been positioned as international projects with a universal appeal," says Sidharth Roy Kapur, EVP-Marketing, Distribution and Syndication, UTV.

In the coming days, UTV also plans to display its entire film catalogue at Cannes which includes blockbusters like S

wades

,

Parineeta

,

Viruddh

,

Chup Chup Ke

,

Don

, Vishal Bhardwaj's

Blue Umbrella

and

Rang De Basanti

.

First Published: May 21, 2007 16:55 IST