In what is thought to be the first deal of its kind, Walt Disney Co is to distribute a major Bollywood title across its home video network.

          Mouse House has acquired rights in North America, the U.K. and Australia to "Taare Zameen Par," a hit movie helmed by Aamir Khan with the tagline "every child counts." Story is a healing relationship between a teacher who breaks the rules in order to connect with his pupils and an 8 year old boy who lives in an imaginary world of his own.

          "We have sold the home video rights of Taare Zameen Par to Walt Disney for the US, UK, Canada and the Australian market," Siddharth Roy Kapur, CEO of UTV Motion Pictures, said. Local media sources report that Disney paid Rupees70 million ($1.68 million) for the rights.

          UTV handled the rights in certain Indian territories and is looking to license them within India too.

          Khan is expected to provide special commentary, behind the scenes footage and storyboard illustrations.

          Disney has a close relationship with the UTV group. It bought UTV's kids channel Hungama and in February paid $200 million to lift its stake in parent company UTV Software Communications from 14% to 33% and a further $30 million to buy a 15% stake in UTV Global Broadcasting business.

© Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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