Cine Blitz

Cine Blitz is a Hindi and English film magazine published every month from Mumbai about Bollywood, Hindi cinema.[1] Started in December 1974, as of 2006, it was one of the top three film magazines in India.[2][3]

Cine Blitz
An issue of Cine Blitz featuring Sonam Kapoor on the cover
CategoriesFilm Magazine
FrequencyMonthly
Circulation1 million
First issueDecember 1974
CompanyE. N. Communication Pvt. Ltd./Sobhagaya Media Pvt. Ltd.
CountryIndia
Based inMumbai
LanguageEnglish & Hindi
Websitewww.cineblitz.in
ISSN0971-9970
OCLC18389308

Cine Blitz belongs to E.N. Communication Pvt Ltd. It was originally started by Rifa Publications, headed by Russi Karanjia and publishers of the popular political weekly Blitz. His daughter Rita Mehta was the first editor-in-chief of the magazine.[4][5][6]

History

Cine Blitz was launched by Russy Karanjia's Rifa Publications in December 1974,and his daughter Rita Mehta became the first editor-in-chief of the magazine. The first issue of December 1974, had Zeenat Aman on the cover. To give the new magazine "a flying start," Rita Mehta approached Protima Bedi and asked her to streak across Mumbai, first at Flora Fountain and then at Juhu Beach. Pictures of it would be carried in the inside pages of the inaugural edition.[3][7]

The ensuing controversy forced the magazine to then (falsely) claim that the naked run was actually shot in Goa and later superimposed on images of Mumbai. However, the goal of popularising the new magazine was achieved and Cine Blitz went on to become one of India's leading film and gossip magazines for years to come. Its attitude was reflected in its rather tongue-in-cheek tagline of "C to Z of Hindi Films - Everyone covers AB".

For the subsequent three decades Cine Blitz continued to be a leading film magazine.[3][8] However around 2000, the magazine sales stagnated for three years and in 2001 it was acquired by UB Group chairman Vijay Mallya under groups by VJM Media Private Limited, though Rita Mehta, its previous owner continued as editor-in-chief of the magazine.[8][9]

The acquisition lead to the revamp of the magazine, and in 2003 Cine Blitz launched its international editions, US and UK editions catering to the Asian diaspora, with launch function in London.[10][11] And in 2006, Rita Mehta was replaced as editor-in-chief by Nishi Prem, the former editor of Stardust.[12]

In 2009, to mark its 35th anniversary,[13] the magazine released a coffee table book about history of Hindi film industry, Love & Longing in Hindi Cinema by editor Nishi Prem.[14][15][16]

Since May 2020, Cineblitz launched an exclusive digital only edition and in June 2020 Cineblitz announced its Annual Awards.

References
  1. Wendy L. Bowcher (2012). Multimodal Texts from Around the World: Cultural and Linguistic Insights. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 179. ISBN 978-0-230-25163-2.
  2. Kasbekar, Asha (January 2006). Pop Culture India!: Media, Arts, and Lifestyle. ABC-CLIO. p. 119. ISBN 978-1-85109-636-7.
  3. "Protima's naked run: Cine Blitz Profile". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 22 December 2002. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  4. "Cine Blitz profile". The Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 22 December 2002. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  5. Bachi Karkaria (2 February 2008). "'Blitz' founder Karanjia dead". The Times of India. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  6. "R.K. Karanjia: Living through the Blitz". The Hindu. 6 February 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  7. "CineBlitz Film Magazine". VJM Media. Archived from the original on 22 September 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  8. Alokananda Chakraborty (30 October 2001). "Business houses and publishing: Is there a synergy?". afaqs!. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  9. "Vijay Mallya to buy Cine Blitz magazine". Rediff.com, Reuters. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  10. "International edition of Cineblitz launched in London". Economic Times. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  11. Bollywood gossip mag Cine Blitz is relaunched Archived 2009-07-31 at the Wayback Machine
  12. Cine Blitz celebrates 32nd anniversary Archived 2009-07-15 at the Wayback Machine
  13. "Coffee-table book 'Cine Blitz Gold' launched in Mumbai". Daily News & Analysis, DNA. 1 December 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  14. "CineBlitz Gold book launch with Vijay Mallya, Aamir Khan, Katrina Kaif & Karan Johar". First Post. 2009. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  15. "Covers and coffee". The Tribune (Chandigarh). 13 December 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  16. "Chairman of UB Group Vijay Mallya, actor Aamir Khan." Hindutan Times. 1 December 2009. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.

Bibliography
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