UTV Motion Pictures

From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum

Background

UTV Motion Pictures was the film division of UTV Software Communications, an Indian media company founded in 1990. In January 2012, UTV became a wholly owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. After the failure of Mohenjo Daro, the company stopped producing domestic films in 2017 and now functions strictly as a distributor. The company currently distributes titles from The Walt Disney Studios including Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar, Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm. The unit doesn't distribute titles from 20th Century Studios, and Searchlight Pictures because titles from both units are distributed by Star Studios.



1st Logo (September 8, 2000)


Visuals: The screen pans across the 3D letters "U", "T" and "V", each letter being a different colour ("U" being bronze, "T" being yellow and "V" being blue). Each letter also emits sparkles, and a lens flare is seen rising on the "V". The screen changes to a green grid background with the letters turning (the T towering above the other letters) all omitting a shining effect as "MOTION PICTURES" flashes in below and a lens flare flies across the middle. 2 red, green and blue lines appear next to the top of the "T".

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A synthesized orchestral crescendo that segues into a short brass fanfare.

Availability: Was only seen on Fiza.

2nd Logo (June 13, 2003-June 18, 2004)


Visuals: On a green lined surface, a lotus bud opens, encircled with golden trace, and the Indian woman appears inside. Several arrow-shaped particles encircle the woman (Paramount-style) and the name zooms in below.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: An Indian rock tune.

Availability: This can be seen in two films, Chalte Chalte and Lakshya.

3rd Logo (June 10, 2005)


Visuals: On an orange-tinted space background, the camera zooms through multiple planets, and then encounters a bright light at the center. Once the screen gets covered up by the light, it cuts to another shot of space where the same light is seen drawing the shiny white letters of "UTV" from the 1st logo in multiple cuts. Once the "V" is drawn, the camera moves to the left as a fill appears on the logo. The camera then changes into perspective as the logo is revealed, alongside three planets. The RGB stripes come in from the sides to the logo, glowing with rays. The letters of "MOTION PICTURES" appear growing in one-by-one below the logo. A flash appears near the top-right of the logo, and the words of the text "PRODUCTION ● DISTRIBUTION" flash in below "MOTION PICTURES" one-by-one. Stars are seen glowing on the background.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A heroic orchestral fanfare, with whooshes at the beginning and wind chimes once the logo is formed.

Availability: It was only seen in Parineeta.

4th Logo (November 3, 2005-2008)


Visuals: On a black background, there are three jars of blue, green and red paint, and a hand plunging fingers into them. Then the jars appear from the top and the hand draws three parallel lines to the right. The name "UTV" fades in over the lines with the text "MOTION PICTURES" fades in afterwards.

Variants:

  • On early films, the word "RELEASE" appears below "MOTION PICTURES".
  • Most of the time, the three jars disappears into black.
  • At the end of The Namesake, the logo is sped up a bit.

Technique: Live-action merged with computer-generated images.

Audio: Soft string tune starting from a cymbal hit, along with an Indian wind instrument.

Availability:

  • Seen on films from the company during the time, such as The Blue Umbrella, Rang De Basanti, and Jodhaa Akbar.
  • The "RELEASE" variant was spotted on Shaadi No. 1.

5th Logo (2008-2009)


Visuals: Again, there are three paint jars and a hand that tips inside. As the lines drawing begins, the surface flips, showing the logo already formed on the opposite side. The light shines behind the logo.

Technique: Live-action with CGI.

Audio: Either the last logo's theme or silence.

Availability: Seen on films from the time, including the United States co-production The Happening, Dev.D, Kaminey, and Delhi-6.

6th Logo (2010-July 14, 2017)


Visuals: On a brightly-lit blue plain, there is a silhouette of an Indian woman letting green powder off her hands. Then the screen cuts to the woman playing with green steam, sending it forth to another people, who proceed their dancing and playing, changing the powder color to blue through red. Finally there are three people together with all colors around, which swirl and cover the silvery "UTV" word appearing from thin air. The logo pans around and casts shadow.

Variant: An early version of the logo with more brighter colors and "don't blink" below the wordmark was been spotted.

Technique: A combination of live-action and CGI mostly created by Hong Kong's Centro Digital Pictures.

Audio: A rhythmic theme similar to classical Indian music. Composed by Viveick Rajagopalan.

Availability: Appeared on the films Tees Maar Khan, Havai Dada, Thank You, Delhi Belly, 7 Khoon Maf, Chillar Party, Pizza, Race 2, and Baaghi, among others. It does not appear on Indian releases of Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar, Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm movies.