Theatre owners up in arms against 'Kuselan'

Owners of theatres screening "Kuselan" have incurred a loss of as much as Rs. 400 million (40 crores) and demanded that the loss be made good by the producers, Kavithalaya and Seven Arts.

Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners Association general secretary R. Paneerselvam and Kancheepuram-Thiruvallur District Theatre owners Association president S.P. Palaniappan told a media conference in Chennai on Aug.18 that a meeting of all theatre owners has been convened for Aug. 23 in Chennai to take stock of the situation and decide on steps to recoup the losses they have incurred. The meeting would also seek Rajini's intervention to resolve the issue amicably.

They said "Kuselan" was released on Aug.1 at 375 theatres all over Tamil Nadu. Big theatres had bought the exhibition rights paying Rs.2.5 million to Rs. 3 million and other theatres from Rs. One million to Rs. 1.5 million. Their total losses till now add up to Rs. 400 million.

Though Rajini had stated that his role in the film was only 25 per cent, as the film was ready and about to be released, the producers had publicized that it was a Rajini film and he would feature from beginning to end. Director Vasu too had told the theatre owners that "Kuselan" was a "Rajini extravaganza". The theatre owners had believed them and paid huge amounts as 'minimum guarantee', Paneerselvam and Palaniappan said.

They claimed that "Kuselan" was the only Rajini film over which they had incurred such huge losses and even "Baba" had not fared so badly. In the case of "Baba" Rajini had compensated the theatres for the losses they had incurred, they pointed out.

As for "Kuselan" several theatre owners had suffered a loss of 90 per cent (of the minimum guarantee amount) and only a small number of theatre owners had reported a loss of 60 per cent.

Paneerselvam and Palaniappan stressed that only Kavithalaya and Seven Arts should make good the losses and Rajini should intervene in the matter. "An amicable settlement is possible only if the superstar intervenes."

The main reason why "Kuselan" bombed at the box office was that it was 'not a Rajini film" and he played only a guest role. Most theatres were empty two days after its release. This had not happened in the case of earlier Rajini films, they said.

They warned that their association would not extend co-operation to Kavithalaya and Seven Arts till the issue is resolved.

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