More title trouble for 'Tirupathi'

Bangalore, April 24 (IANS) Ajith starrer Tamil film "Tirupathi", directed by Perarasu, may have enjoyed a good opening in Tamil Nadu and abroad, but it is yet to be released in Karnataka.

What is more, the film's release may be delayed by three to six months.

The film is facing title trouble again. Earlier a plea to stay film's release in Tamil Nadu, on the ground that same title is registered by another company with the Film Producers' Association, has been dismissed by a court.

The film, which was released on April 13 in Tamil Nadu, could not be screened in Karnataka on the scheduled date because all cinema halls in the state were closed to mourn the death of Kannada icon Rajkumar.

Though the theatres reopened on April 14, no new film was released except the Hollywood offering "Basic Instinct II". Film distributors unanimously decided to postpone the screening of new films by a week.

But "Tirupathi" is also in trouble because another Kannada film with the same title is also ready for release.

Director Shivamani has wrapped up the shooting of Sudeep-starrer "Tirupathi" in Kannada and post-production work is almost complete. Produced by Ramaswamy, the film is slated to hit screens some time in May.

Producer R.S. Gowda has complained to the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce that the screening of the Tamil "Tirupathi" before his film's release may affect his box office collections.

Gowda has also said that the same title may create some confusion in the viewers' minds.

According to a precedent, if a Kannada film and a non-Kannada one share the same title, then the benefit of earlier release would go to the Kannada film.

The Kannada film "Sree" was released earlier in spite of the fact that the Telugu "Sree" was ready for release before it.

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