Beijing: Bollywood blockbuster and Oscar best foreign film nominee 'Lagaan' will have its China debut next month (November) paving way for Hindi film industry to break Hollywood's monopoly in the world's most populous nation, industry sources said on October 13.

"We are getting ready to release 'Lagaan' in China and are excited about it," an official from Columbia Tristar Film Distributors International (CTFDI) said.

CTFDI, a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company, and China film group will jointly release Lagaan in the country with Chinese subtitles on revenue-sharing basis, he said.

"A gala premiere is being planned in three cities including Beijing and Shanghai and we will invite Aamir Khan, Gracy Singh and Director Ashutosh Gowariker to attend them," the official said.

'Lagaan' will be the first Indian film that will be released as a revenue-sharing title national-wide in China, he said, while stressing the difficulty in getting the break into the Chinese foreign movie market.

China has a quota of 20 for the revenue-sharing foreign movies every year.

For many years, American blockbusters have dominated China's domestic film market, and the Chinese audiences are overwhelmed by American titles.

"Following its international success, 'Lagaan' brings us a great chance to break the wrong idea that 'good movies are American ones' over Indian titles because Indian titles are as excellent, if not better, as the US ones," the official sad.

With support from Indian embassy in Beijing and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), CTFDI is also planning to hold an Indian movie week, the official said.

PTI