I noticed that UTV is now releasing Johdaa Akbar. Big Home Video released this title earlier this month. Same sort of thing happened with Wanted (Eros and T-Series) and Race (Moser Baer and UTV) This is something that is very strange for non-Indian consumer to see the same film released by multiple Indian distributors. Why is this done? Isn't there an exclusive agreement for Blu-ray releases in India or is this routine? Does this happen for most titles or only for some titles?

Actually the same happens in the case of Hollywood titles too. That is, when the rights for different territories are held by different companies. For eg. Titanic in the US/Canada was a Paramount release, whereas outside the US, it was a Fox release. I am sure if you look on this site itself, you will see almost all Hollywood titles have separate releases for the UK and the US and this is even in the case where the same company has rights in both US & UK. Similiarly, 'UTV' owns the overseas rights to 'Jodhaa Akbar', whereas in India they sold the rights to 'BIG Home Video'. In the case of 'Wanted', Eros owns the overseas rights, whereas T-Series owns rights in India. Similarly, 'Race' is distributed by UTV overseas, whereas MoserBaer released it in India. BIG Home Video, T-Series, MoserBaer, Eagle Video & to some extent Shemaroo, generally only own rights for distribution in India.

Thank you. So that was what was confusing. I thought both UTV and Big Home Video were Indian releases whereas Bodega was a French release, etc. Same thing with Eros and T-series. I thought they were both Indian releases. I think of foreign distributors (with more foreign name) when I think of foreign releases.

So if I see UTV or Eros, does that automatically make them International release rather than Indian home market release? What are some Indian home market distributors and International distributors of Indian films?

India

Big Home Video
Eagle Video
Moser Baer
Shemaroo
T-Series
Yash Raj

International

Eros
UTV
Yash Raj

This list is valid for Hindi movies only and it is certainly not complete. But it does cover all the 'major' players.

India
Big Home Video
Eagle Video
Eros
Moser Baer
Shemaroo
T-Series
UTV
Yash Raj

International
Big Home Video <-- Not sure
Eros
Shemaroo <-- Not sure. They may have 'Interantional' rights, to some old titles.
UTV
Yash Raj

PS: Companies in 'Bold', release both in India and Internationally.

If those companies in bold release both in India and Internationally (Big Home Video, Eros, Shemaroo, UTV, Yash Raj), how can you tell which release is domestic and which release is International? Is there some markings or ratings on the cover that indicate domestic vs. international?

In India, it is a statuory requirement for all retail products to have the MRP (Maximum Retail Price) printed on the packaging. Also, all video releases in India, are required to have the censor board certificate printed onthe packaging. Hope that answers your question.

Have seen Eros now releasing Yash Raj movies on DVD in the USA.