`Avatar` to release with 700 prints in India

New Delhi: Hollywood director James Cameron`s much-anticipated 3D sci-fi epic "Avatar" is going to release in India Friday with 700 prints - in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, besides English.

Produced by Twentieth Century Fox, the motion picture is touted as the most expensive film ever, made on a whopping $230-million (Rs.1,200-crore) budget. "There is an incredible buzz around the film in India and we are going all out to give it the best possible release. `Avatar` will be released with 700 prints, in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, which is by far one of the biggest releases for a Hollywood film in India," Vijay Singh, CEO, Fox Star Studios India, said in a statement. The movie is also the first ever 3D Hollywood film to be released in Tamil. "The local market for Hollywood films is growing at a very fast rate and there is an unprecedented hype surrounding `Avatar` across India. We therefore decided to release the 3D version in Tamil too as it is an important market," Singh said. Swaroop Reddy, director, Sathyam Cinema, the distributor for "Avatar" in Tamil Nadu, added: "`Avatar` is undoubtedly the most awaited movie of the decade and we at Sathyam Cinemas are all revved up about it especially since we`re releasing it in digital 3D too... We`re expecting nothing short of a phenomenal response at the cinemas." Fox will be releasing the movie with more than 100 prints in Tamil Nadu - both in English and Tamil. A blend of live-action photography and virtual photo realistic production techniques, "Avatar" is releasing Dec 18 worldwide in 2D and 3D. Starring Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver and Zoe Saldana, the movie depicts the story of a wounded ex-marine thrust unwillingly into an effort to exploit an exotic moon rich in bio-diversity, who eventually crosses over to lead the indigenous race in a battle for survival. IANS