Pen Studios (formerly Popular Entertainment Network) is an Indian film production and distribution company established by Dr. Jayantilal Gada on 31 March 1987. Based in Mumbai, it mainly produces and distributes Hindi, Tamil and Telugu films. In 1992, the business was restructured under the name Popular Entertainment Network, and began to acquire video rights for movies to be distributed over various media such as video cassettes, satellites, terrestrial platforms, etc. The company subsequently forayed into theatrical and distribution rights of movies.
In the past few years, Pen Studios has produced films such as Kahaani and Shivaay, with many A-listers, that have been a huge success at the box office. The company, now, is also expanding by focusing on producing good regional content.
Pen India Limited launched a new Television Channel named WOW. WOW's content library is full of various old and new Hindi film musics and movies to latest Gujarati, Hindi dubbed (Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada) films, and TV series such as Mahabharat.[1][2][3][4][5]
Dr. Jayantilal Gada started as a small-time entrepreneur with a video library called Popular Video Cassette Co in 1984. Later, he went into trading of video rights and distribution of VHS tapes across India by establishing Asia's biggest video shop, "Popular Video", at Lamington Road, Mumbai.[6]
Restructured and formed Popular Entertainment Network Limited (with brand name 'PEN') in 1992 and started dealing in copyrights of Hindi feature films viz. video, satellite and Doordarshan (DD).[6]
PEN was the largest content provider of Hindi feature films to channels. In 1995, PEN created another landmark by telecasting Sholay 20 years after its theatrical release on Doordarshan and creating a record with the highest ever Television viewing ratings (76 TRPs) with about 7.5 crore revenues.[6]
In 1996, Sony TV telecast Sholay to celebrate its first anniversary and gained the number-one position among satellite channels, beating Zee TV for the first time.
Daughter Bhavita Jayantilal Gada also joined PEN in 2006 and started an animation division with mega projects like Mahabharat.[7]
Nephew Kushal Kantilal Gada joined the group in 2007 after graduating in management studies.
In 2009, son Dhaval Gada, after completing his course at Whistling Woods International Institute, joined PEN to streamline production activities.[6][8]
In 2012, PEN's maiden production Kahaani with Sujoy Ghosh proves successful at the box office.[7]
In 2013, PEN released three projects: Issaq, released all over India in 900 theatres. Singh Saab the Great on 1970 screens in India. Mahabharat 3D animation feature film also released in 300 theatres.[9]
In 2014, PEN completed and finally released Sholay 3D in 780 theatres in India. PEN also co-produces and distributes Nagesh Kukunoor's Art House film Lakshmii on 82 screens, Entertainment in 3,200 screens worldwide. PEN also distributed and released Ekkees Toppon Ki Salaami on 490 screens and Ketan Mehta's Rang Rasiya on 890 screens.[9]
PEN has been associated in the past with films such as Sauda (1995), Kohram (1999), Lal Baadshah (1999), Kitne Door Kitne Paas (2002), Shararat (2002), and Yeh Mera India (2009) as rights=holders and not as a production.
The following is a list of notable films in which Jayantilal Gada's Pen India Ltd has been involved.
PEN MARUDHAR CINE ENTERTAINMENT PVT. LTD. (INDIA DISTRIBUTION)
Pen Marudhar, incorporated in 2018, is known for distributing the best content from Bollywood & Hollywood strategically. It has strategically partnered with top production houses like Bhansali Productions, Red Chillies Ent., T-Series, Balaji Motion Pictures, Pooja Entertainment, Jio Studios & others.
It distributed the most commercially successful as well as critically acclaimed films back-to-back, with the biggest stars of Bollywood such as ‘Badla’ with Amitabh Bachchan, ‘Dreamgirl’ with Ayushmann Khurrana, and ‘Marjaavaan’ with Siddharth Malhotra, followed by the Saif-Tabu starrer ‘Jawaani Jaaneman’, Kartik-Sara starrer ‘Love Aaj Kal’ and Irrfan Khan’s last outing ‘Angrezi Medium. ’ It has a record like no one else of contributing upto 1000 crores to the industry in 2022 just after Pandemic. It successfully released Gangubai Kathiawadi, RRR, Attack & Jersey. Further it went on to release a host of big films in the same year such as Vikram, PS-1, Vikram Vedha, Sita Ramam, Chup, Bhedia and Cirkus among others.In 2023 Pen Marudhar released PS-2, Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, Satyaprem Ki Katha, Gumraah, Ghoomer and the recent blockbusters Jawan and Dream Girl-2. Its upcoming project is the most awaited film of 2023 ‘Dunki’
PM’s success isn’t limited to just Bollywood, Pen Marudhar distributes successful films down South such as ‘Sarileru and Neekevaru’ with the mega star Mahesh Babu, and made the right noise in Hollywood by associating with ‘Bombshell’ that was nominated in Oscars. Apart from this their Hollywood list includes ‘Annabelle-comes home’ and ‘Knives Out’. Further it distributed Korean Dramas ‘Decibel & 6/45’ and the French film ‘Three Musketers – D’Artaganan in 2023