Click to play videoChennai: Like in Mumbai, Diwali in Tamil Nadu is an auspicious time for filmmakers. The anticipation levels are high with films like Ajith's Varalaru. Sarath Kumar's 100th film Thalaimagan and Silambarasan's Vallavan in line for this year’s Diwali releases.
The fact that there are at least eight films that are slated for release this Diwali may sound fabulous except that there are not enough premium theatres that could take these movies to the audience.
"There are so many movies releasing, we may not have enough theatres these days. If you don't get the right theatre, the audience may not go in for the films, even if the movie is good, the reason for a flop may not be you, may not be the product, it could be the theatre. The theatre is not available,” says President, South Indian Artistes Association, Sarath Kumar.
The films slated for release will have at least four to five prints each and with just about 31 'A' grade theatres in the city to screen them, the competition is quite tough.
"If the producer's limit the number of releases to five, then there wouldn't be a problem. The producer's should co-operate. But I know there'd be in financial trouble. Talks are going on to decrease the number of releases,” says President, Film Producer's Council, Ramanarayanan.
Meanwhile, President Chennai City Film Exhibitor's Association, S V R M Ramanathan (Abirami Raamanathan) says, “Now producers are talking about lack of theatres. We're talking about shortage of films after 20-25 days from Diwali. Maximum we're fed for 25-26 weeks in a year by these prime releases and the for the rest of the weeks we've to go hunting for English, Hindi or dubbing films.”
Moreover the continuing good collections of earlier releases like Unakkum enakkum, Vettaiyadu Vilaiyadu and Imsai Arasan 23-am pulikesi have made exhibitors hesitant to make space for the new releases.
"If a movie is making money, if a movie is doing well, I’ve no reason to take it off and screen something else. Why should I? Ramanathan asks.
So while the number of Tamil releases has increased every year, the number of theatres has remained the same. And now the only solution to ensure screens for every movie seems to be to limit the number of releases during the festive seasons.
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