With the Tamil Film Producers’ Council trying hard to control the release of big budget movies during ten selective occasions in a calendar year, there is a frantic hurry among makers to get their films to the marquee.
This attempt was to facilitate small and medium budget films to release in theatres. However, February will see close to 20 films (an average of five films in a week) releasing!
On February 5, the first Friday of the month, three films — Visaaranai, Bangalore Naatkal and Saahasam are scheduled to open.
On the 12th, Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum, Jil Jung Juk, Miruthan and Sowkarpettai have confirmed their release, while Kanithan, Navarasa Thilagam, Sethu Bhoomi and others line up currently unscheduled.
Industry pundits and trade analysts say that it is not a healthy trend, and will affect the box office prospects of each film.
“There was a time when we had just four or five films releasing in a month. But everything is disorganised now. Irrespective of them being big or small, there are five films every week!” reveals veteran historian Film News Anandhan.
According to his recent study, as many as 114 Tamil films which passed the Censor Board last September are still lying in the cans due to reasons like financial crunches and non-availability of theatres, because a majority of these movies are low-budget ventures without ‘saleable’ elements in them.
“That way a huge chunk of money is also blocked,” he states.
Sura, a writer and trade analyst, says, “I feel the main cause for the increase in the number of movies made in the last few years is that the filmmakers come to the industry not out of passion, but because they are lured by middlemen who promise them big money in return.”
Murali Ramanarayanan, veteran producer and distributor says that this trend of releasing so many films in a week is bad for the industry.
“January 1 was never considered as an important date for producers to release films so far. But if you see this year, we were surprised to see about nine movies released, including Maalai Neratthu Mayakkam, Karaiyoram and Azhagu Kutti Chellam.”
And when theatres in Tamil Nadu can accommodate approximately only 150 films a year, how can you expect to get screens for so many films churned out week after week, he asks, adding, “Small and medium budget producers have to take a call and should be contented releasing their films in about 150 screens and not occupying many screens in the same complex. If the content is good, the film will continue to run for long.”
But all said and done, good films will continue to run, irrespective of big or small, says producer Karthik.
“The cramming of too many films in February may be due to the fact that school exams are scheduled for March and April and assembly elections in May.
So, the producers of completed films cannot afford to wait till June, with the exception of few biggies who have slotted their films on April 14, the Tamil New Year, an auspicious day for new releases.
A big producer who wishes to remain anonymous, feels that it is next to impossible to control this practice.
“Cinema production is a ‘Free Trade industry’. So, anyone can make a film. With traditional producers reducing in number and corporates coming in, the number of films made can only have an upward trend.”
