Pen StudiosCompany typePrivateIndustryEntertainmentFounded31 March 1983(42 years ago) (1983-03-31)FounderJayantilal GadaHeadquartersMumbai, Maharashtra, IndiaKey peopleJayantilal GadaProductsFilms, musicServicesFilm productionFilm distributionOwnerJayantilal GadaWebsitepenstudios.in
Pen Studios (formerly Popular Entertainment Network) is an Indian film production and distribution company established by Dr. Jayantilal Gada on 31 March 1983. 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 he 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]
Initial years[edit]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]
Brief history[edit]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]
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]
Daughter Bhita Jayantilal Gada also joined PEN in 2006 and started an animation division with mega projects like Mahabharat.[7]
In 2009, son Dhal Gada, after completing his course at Whistling Woods International Institute, joined PEN to streamline production activities.[6][8]
Film history[edit]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.[citation needed]
TV Channels[edit] On air channels[edit] Channel Launched Language Category SD/HD ailability Notes BFlix Movies 2016 Hindi Movies SD All Time Movies 2024 Replaced by Dhinchaak (owned by Goldmines Telefilms) Defunct channels[edit] Channel Launched Closed Language Category Notes MTunes HD 2011 2017 Hindi Music Replaced as WOW Music WOW Music 2018 2019 Replaced as I Love I Love 2019 2021 Filmography[edit] Production[edit] Year Film Cast 2008 Yeh Mera India Anupam Kher, Purab Kohli 2010 Kaalo Swini Khara 2011 Chatur Singh Two Star Sanjay Dutt, Ameesha Patel 2012 Kahaani Vidya Balan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui 2013 Issaq Prateik Babbar, Amyra Dastur, Ri Kishan Mahabharat Ajay Devgan, Anil Kapoor Singh Saab The Great Sunny Deol, Urvashi Rautela, Prakash Raj 2014 Lakshmi Nagesh Kukunoor, Monali Thakur Sholay 3D Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan Rang Rasiya Randeep Hooda, Nandana Sen Entertainment Akshay Kumar, Tamannaah Ekkees Toppon Ki Salaami Anupam Kher, Neha Dhupia 2015 P Se PM Tak Meenakshi Dixit Singh Is Bliing Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Lara Dutta 2016 Rajini Murugan Sivakarthikeyan, Keerthy Suresh, Rajkiran, Soori, Samuthirakani Mastizaade Sunny Leone, Tusshar Kapoor Do Lafzon Ki Kahani Randeep Hooda, Kajal Aggarwal Wah Taj Shreyas Talpade, Manjari Phadnis Shivaay Ajay Devgn, Sayyeshaa Saigal Kahaani 2: Durga Rani Singh Vidya Balan, Arjun Rampal Nagarahu Vishnuvardhan 2017 Commando 2: The Black Money Trail Vidyut Jamwal, Adah Sharma Esha Gupta Machine Mustafa Burmawala, Kiara Advani, Ronit Roy Si3 Suriya, Anushka Shetty, Shruti Haasan, Thakur Anoop Singh Haseena Parkar Shraddha Kapoor, Siddhanth Kapoor, Ankur Bhatia, Rajesh Tailang 2018 Aiyaary Sidharth Malhotra, Manoj Bajpai, Rakul Preet Singh GujjuBhai - Most Wanted Siddharth Randeria, Jimit Trivedi Mercury Prabhu Deva Yamla Pagla Deewana: Phir Se Dharmendra, Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Kriti Kharbanda Helicopter Eela Kajol, Riddhi Sen, Tota Roy Chowdhury, Neha Dhupia Namaste England Arjun Kapoor, Parineeti Chopra, Kishore Bhatt, Aditya Seal Sandakozhi 2 Vishal, Rajkiran, Keerthy Suresh, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar 2019 The Accidental Prime Minister Anupam Kher, Akshaye Khanna Total Dhamaal Ajay Devgn, Madhuri Dixit, Anil Kapoor, Riteish Deshmukh, Arshad Warsi, Jed Jaffrey Mere Pyare Prime Minister Anjali Patil, Om Kanojiya, Makrand Deshpande, Rasika Agashe Yeh Saali Aashiqui Vardhan Puri, Shivaleeka Oberoi 2020 Gul Makai Reem Shaikh, Atul Kulkarni, Divya Dutta, Mukesh Rishi, Pankaj Tripathi 2021 The Power Vidyut Jammwal, Shruti Haasan Kya Meri Sonam Gupta Bewafa Hai? Jassie Gill, Surbhi Jyoti Bhai Pratik Gandhi, Aindrita Ray 2022 Khiladi Ri Teja, Arjun Sarja, Unni Mukundan, Meenakshi Chaudhary, Dimple Hayathi Gangubai Kathiawadi Alia Bhatt Attack John Abraham, Jacqueline Fernandez, Rakul Preet Singh Chup: Revenge of the Artist Sunny Deol, Dulquer Salmaan, Shreya Dhanwanthary, Pooja Bhatt 2023 Pathu Thala Silambarasan, Gautham Karthik Chatrapathi Bellamkonda Sreenivas, Nushrratt Bharuccha 2025 Romeo S3 Thakur Anoop Singh, Palak Tiwari Controll Thakur Anoop Singh, Rohit Roy, Priya Anand 2025 Kumki 2 Mathi, Arjun Das, Shrita Rao Distribution[edit] Year Film Cast 2018 Zero Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma, Katrina Kaif 2019 Badla Taapsee Pannu, Amitabh Bachchan Annabelle Comes Home Mckenna Grace, Madison Iseman, Katie Sarife, Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson Knives Out Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, LaKeith Stanfield, Katherine Langford, Jaeden Martell, Christopher Plummer Judgementall Hai Kya Kangana Ranaut, Rajkummar Rao Jabariya Jodi Sidharth Malhotra, Parineeti Chopra Dream Girl Ayushmann Khurana, Nushrat Bharucha Satellite Shankar Sooraj Pancholi Marjaaan Sidharth Malhotra, Tara Sutaria, Riteish Deshmukh Bombshell Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie 2020 Jawaani Jaaneman Saif Ali Khan, Alaya F Love Aaj Kal Kartik Aaryan, Sara Ali Khan, Randeep Hooda, Aarushi Sharma Kaamyaab Sanjay Mishra Angrezi Medium Irrfan Khan, Deepak Dobriyal, Radhika Madan, Kareena Kapoor Khan 2021 Chehre Amitabh Bachchan, Emraan Hashmi 2022 RRR NTR Jr., Ram Charan, Alia Bhatt, Olivia Morris, Ajay Devgn Vikram Kamal Haasan, Vijay Sethupathi, Fahadh Faasil, Suriya Vikram Vedha Saif Ali Khan, Hrithik Roshan Bhediya Varun Dhawan, Kriti Sanon, Abhishek Banerjee, Paalin Kabak, Deepak Dobriyal Cirkus Ranveer Singh, Varun Sharma, Pooja Hegde, Jacqueline Fernandez 2023 Zara Hatke Zara Bachke Vicky Kaushal, Sara Ali Khan Satyaprem Ki Katha Kartik Aaryan, Kiara Advani Ghoomer Abhishek Bachchan, Saiyami Kher, Shabana Azmi Dream Girl 2 Ayushman Khurana, Ananya Panday, Paresh Rawal, Annu Kapoor, Vijay Raaz Jawan Shah Rukh Khan, Vijay Sethupathi, Nayanthara Sukhee Shilpa Shetty The Vaccine War Nana Patekar, Palli Joshi Ghost Shiva Rajkumar, Jayaraj, Anupam Kher Sajini Shinde Ka Viral Video Nimrat Kaur, Radhika Madan, Bhagyashree, Subodh Bhe Jigarthanda DoubleX Ragha Lawrence, S. J. Suryah Dunki Shah Rukh Khan, Taapsee Pannu, Vikram Kochhar, Anil Grover, Boman Irani, Vicky Kaushal 2024 Main Atal Hoon Pankaj Tripathi Merry Christmas Katrina Kaif, Vijay Sethupathi Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon Kaagaz 2 Anupam Kher, Satish Kaushik, Darshan Kumar Crew Tabu, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Kriti Sanon The Three Musketeers: Milady François Civil, Vincent Cassel, Pio Marmaï, Romain Duris, Eva Green Chandu Champion Kartik Aaryan, Vijay Raaz Munjya Sharvari, Abhay Verma Ishq Vishk Rebound Rohit Saraf, Pashmina Roshan, Jibraan Khan, Naila Grrewal Hindustani 2 Kamal Haasan Sarfira Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, Radhika Madan Ulajh Janhvi Kapoor, Roshan Mathew, Gulshan Devaiah, Adil Hussain Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Jimmy Sheirgill Stree 2 Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Abhishek Banerjee, Aparshakti Khurana The Buckingham Murders Kareena Kapoor Khan Bhaiyya Ji Manoj Bajpayee Kahan Shuru Kahan Khatam Dhvani Bhanushali, Aashim Gulati Amaran Sivakarthikeyan, Sai Palli Kanguva Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani 2025 Chhaa Vicky Kaushal, Rashmika Mandanna, Akshaye Khanna Sikandar Salman Khan, Sathyaraj, Rashmika Mandana Retro Suriya, Pooja Hegde Thug Life Kamal Haasan, Silambarasan TR, Trisha Krishnan, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Abhirami Bhool Chuk Maaf Rajkummar Rao, Wamiqa Gabbi, Seema Pahwa, Sanjay Mishra, Raghubir Yad, Zakir Hussain Housefull 5 Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonam Bajwa, Nargis Fakhri, Dino Morea, Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff, Nana Patekar, Chitrangda Singh, Fardeen Khan, Chunky Panday, Johnny Lever, Shreyas Talpade, Ranjeet, Soundarya Sharma, Nikitin Dheer Coolie Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna, Upendra, Shruti Haasan, Soubin Shahir, Aamir Khan Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra Kalyani Priyadarshan,Naslen,Sandy Master,Arun Kurian,Chandu Salim Kumar Mere Raho Sai Palli, Junaid Khan References[edit] ^ "A new TV channel that will wow viewers". The Times of India. 20 July 2018. ^ "Pen expands its digital presence, Launches New Channel 'WOW' in Delhi!". 18 July 2018. ^ [1][permanent dead link] ^ "Jayantilal Gada's Pen India to launch four channels in April 2018 - TelevisionPost". Archived from the original on 18 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018. ^ "Jayantilal Gada's Pen India launched new channel 'WOW'". 19 July 2018. ^ a b c d "Jayantilal Gada: I feel proud that today I am making films with the same stars whose video cassettes I sold at one time". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 30 November 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2015. ^ a b "Watch: Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Vidya Balan in animated 'Mahabharat'". Archived from the original on 29 September 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015. ^ "Dhal Gada Of PEN India : I'll Keep My Father Jayantilal Gada's Head Held High With Pride". 23 April 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015. ^ a b "Pen India Limited". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 16 January 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2015. External links[edit] Official website