Are You The Next Bollywood Singing Sensation?

NEW YORK (Map) - State Farm(R) is sending one talented singer to the silver screens of India

NEW YORK, July 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Do you have what it takes to sing in a Bollywood movie? Prove your chops are best in the first-ever Bollywood singing competition. Hosted by Saavn, the world's largest marketer and distributor of Bollywood entertainment, and sponsored by State Farm; one winner from the US will be given the chance to fulfill the dream of singing on-screen in a Bollywood musical. The winner will be selected online at http://www.bollystar2009.com/ by music fans and Bollywood fans around the nation.

"At State Farm we think nothing's more important than being there for our customers and we seek out ways to connect with consumers in relevant ways," said Mark Gibson, State Farm assistant vice president - advertising. "With Bollywood at the heart of South Asian entertainment here in the U.S., we're thrilled to sponsor this competition that gives people a chance to realize their dreams."

Contestants can enter in two ways: by partaking in live auditions in New Jersey and California, or by uploading a video to http://www.bollystar2009.com/. All videos are judged by the community who vote for their favorites on the contest website. The videos that get the most votes will become the finalists and one winner will be selected. The winner will receive a trip to the film shoot site and the role in the movie will be coordinated through one of Saavn's partners.

To join Saavn and State Farm at live auditions, please attend one of the following events:

-- Saturday, July 11, Edison, NJ, 3 PM-6 PM: Movie City -- Saturday, July 11, Fremont, CA, 3 PM-7 PM: Naz 8

-- Sunday, July 12, Artesia, CA, 3 PM-6 PM: Naz 8

"Music is such an important part of Bollywood films so by hosting this competition, we're really opening up an amazing opportunity for an aspiring singer," says Paramdeep Singh, co-founder and managing director of Saavn. "We also think this competition will help bring Bollywood music to new audiences. We have hundreds of music videos on the site that music fans can explore and probably many will love the beats as much any die-hard Bollywood fan."

Bollywood is the main film industry in India, based in Mumbai and the largest in the world. Each year, Bollywood produces over 1,000 films, seen by billions. State Farm will be promoting the contest throughout the summer with leading Asian marketing firm interTrend, based out of San Francisco.

"Along with State Farm, we have the opportunity to uncover hidden talent across the U.S. and introduce exceptional skill and artistry to the world. This competition is a unique way of discovering the American dream, which is truly a multicultural experience," said Julia Huang, CEO of interTrend Communications, the State Farm Asian American advertising agency of record.

Singh added, "We can't wait to see the submissions. Who knows? Maybe we will find the next Sonu Nigam or Sunidhi Chauhan."

About Saavn:

Saavn brings the best of Bollywood and Indian entertainment to the world. As the largest digital distributor in Bollywood, Saavn owns the digital rights to hundreds of movies, more than 250,000 music tracks, 20,000 music videos, and 10,000 ringtones. Saavn programs, packages and distributes its exclusive catalog and new Bollywood releases to more than 75 global media companies including Time Warner Cable, Cablevision, Netflix, Verizon Wireless and Apple's iTunes. Saavn is a joint venture of [212]MEDIA and Hungama Mobile, and the company has offices in Mumbai, London, New York, Los Angeles, and Toronto. To find out more, visit: http://www.saavn.com.

About State Farm(R):

State Farm insures more cars and homes than any other insurer in the U.S., is the leading insurer of watercraft and is also a leading insurer in Canada. State Farm's 17,700 agents and 68,600 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts - more than 78.7 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and more than 1.9 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 31 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com(R) or in Canada statefarm.ca(R).

About interTrend:

interTrend Communications, Inc. has been building relationships, building brands for nearly two decades. As the leading, 100% minority owned, full-service marketing agency targeting a wide range of Asian American segments, interTrend offers marketing solutions that not only touch millions of Asian consumers across the nation but have also greatly influenced the general market. Through traditional practices as well as the excitement of new media, interTrend helps F100 companies establish strong brand leadership positions. From creative development to media buying and everything in between, interTrend is well-versed in the entire marketing and advertising experience. Taking the industry to another level, interTrend has created a program called Imprint Culture Lab, which initiates dialogue between pop culture trendsetters and the world of global business. Through these forums, interTrend is able to tap into special insights to better build honest and innovative communications. interTrend has established long-term partnerships with Toyota Motor Sales, JCPenney, AT&T, Western Union, The Walt Disney Company, State Farm Insurance, Southern California Gas Company, and San Diego Gas & Electric. Providing impactful solutions that are tailored for each specific client and each unique market segment, interTrend is structured to take on any challenge at any time.