Hurdles to Pongal Releases Removed

Actors and actresses need not pay back any percentage of the remuneration they have already received on account of the Tamil Nadu Government's lowering the cinema admission rates effective January 1, 2007. This decision was taken at trilateral talks held at the South India Film Chamber of Commerce on Dec.31.

After the Government's announcement distributors raised the issue that they had paid high prices for Vijay's "Pokkiri", Ajith's "Alwar" and Vishal's "Thambirabarani" slated for release during Pongal and the reduction of the ticket rates would affect the collections and so 30 per cent of the money paid to the actors, actresses and technicians should be returned by them to recoup the loss. There were apprehensions that the issue would become a major hurdle to releasing these big budget films for Pongal.

Producers and distributors had wanted Vijay, Ajith and Vishal to be called for talks in this regard. Producers had held talks with the artistes on Dec.30. The talks continued on Dec. 31 when it was decided that "Pokiri", "Alwar" and "Thambirabarani" be released unconditionally. If any distributor faces any problem, he could sort it out with the producer concerned through talks, Mr. Rama Narayanan told mediapersons after the meeting.

The meeting which lasted two hours from 10.30 a.m. was attended by Nadigar Sangam (Artistes association) president Sarath Kumar, vice-president Vijaykumar, general secretary Radha Ravi, committee member K.R. Selvaraj. The Film Producers Council was represented by its president Rama Narayanan, vice-presidents Kaja Maideen and Anbalaya K. Prabhakaran, secretaries, Sivasakthi Pandian and K.S. Srinivasan, and a number of other producers, including Kovai Thambi. The Distributions Association was represented by President Arul Pathi, convener Shanmugam and others

The Government's action in reducing the ticket rates comes in the wake of the rising cost of production of films. The Producers Council wants the cost to be reduced drastically. It is said nearly 40 per cent of the cost of a big-budget film featuring actors like Rajinikanth and Kamal Hassan accounts for the actor's remuneration. Actresses, directors, cinematographers and music directors have also hiked their rates pushing up the cost further.

While the movie-goers are happy over the reduced admission rates, distributors, theatre owners, producers and artistes are exercised over the prospects of a fall in revenue which would lead to a crisis in the film industry.

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Pokkiri