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CA Media invests in Graphic India, creates digital comics company

Liquid Comics Co-Founder Sharad Devarajan appointed CEO of new company

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CA Media invests in Graphic India, creates digital comics company

CA Media invests in Graphic India, creates digital comics company

Liquid Comics Co-Founder Sharad Devarajan appointed CEO of new company

BestMediaInfo Bureau | Delhi | January 18, 2013

publive-imageCA Media, the Asian investment arm of The Chernin Group, yesterday announced that it has acquired a large minority stake in Graphic India, a comic book and animation company focused on creating mythological and superhero characters, comics and stories for the Indian youth market, published across mobile and online platforms.

Launched last year by media entrepreneurs Sharad Devarajan, Gotham Chopra and Suresh Seetharaman as a subsidiary ofUScomic book company Liquid Comics, Graphic India will now be jointly owned by Liquid Comics and CA Media.

Devarajan will be appointed CEO of Graphic India and remain Executive Chairman of Liquid Comics.

As part of the transaction, Liquid Comics will contribute one of the world's largest and highest- quality comic book libraries based on Indian characters to Graphic India. In addition to CA Media's investment, it will partner with Graphic India to provide industry expertise and create iconic franchises for Graphic's characters through multiple media within the Indian entertainment ecosystem.

Through animated shorts, digital comics, and associated media content, Graphic India will launch mythological and superhero characters and storylines thatIndia's youth audience can celebrate with pride. GraphicIndiawill enable consumers to experience its growing library of content across a variety of mobile and online devices, both withinIndiaand worldwide through its own digital platform as well as through distribution partners.

Rajesh Kamat, CEO, CA Media India, said, “Following our successful entry into the traditional media space, we are very pleased that Graphic India marks our first investment in the digital space. CA Media's aim is to create an ecosystem of diversified assets across media, where each asset not only unlocks its own value, but also adds to the rest of the portfolio. GraphicIndia is a valuable addition to this mix, especially in the youth segment. We look forward to working with the company to create heroes that inspire the next generation of Indian consumers.”

Paul Aiello, CEO, CA Media, added, “CA Media is thrilled to be partnering with the talented Liquid Comics team, headed by Sharad Devarajan. We look forward to building the business with Sharad and his team, an amazingly gifted group of content creators and phenomenal operators.”

“Indiais home to some of the most creative minds in the world, and we believe that the next Batman, Harry Potter, Pokemon or The Avengers can come from this country,” commented Graphic India Co-Founder & CEO Sharad Devarajan. “At Graphic India, we intend to find, nurture and promote a new generation of creators to transform the world with their stories. The team at The Chernin Group and CA Media bring an unparalleled level of experience in entertainment and we could not imagine a better partner to work with to launch this mission.”

GraphicIndiaintends to launch numerous new projects in the upcoming year showcasing original stories from young breakthrough talent as well as established Indian and global icons. The company has partnered with POW! Entertainment and Stan Lee, the legendary co-creator of Spider-Man, X-Men, Hulk, Iron Man, Hulk and The Avengers, to create his first superhero for the Indian market –Chakra The Invincible. The story centres on Mumbai teenager Raju Rai, who develops a technology-enhanced suit that activates the mystical chakras of the body, unleashing newfound abilities and powers. Lee will be collaborating with a team of leading Indian artists and creators to bring the new superhero to animation and comic books.

In addition to numerous new properties in production, Graphic India will release new digital content around the highly acclaimed comic books previously published by Liquid Comics, including:

• Devi, created by preeminent filmmaker Shekhar Kapur (Elizabeth; Mr.India; The Golden Age) features the story of an immortal goddess reincarnated as a young woman in the fictional Indian city ofSitapur, charged with using her super-heroic powers to save her city from demons and monsters.

• The Sadhu, created by Gotham Chopra, about a British colonial soldier who becomes trained by the Indian mystics known as Sadhus and uses his newfound abilities for justice and currently being developed as a theatrical live-action film inHollywood.

• Ramayan 3392AD, a futuristic epic inspired by the classical Ramayana myth and currently being developed as a theatrical live-action film inHollywoodwith Mandalay Entertainment.

Info@BestMediaInfo.com

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