CHENNAI: With Tamil film industry reeling under piracy probmenace, the producer of Theri faced yet another grave problem from an unexpected quarter. Directed by Atlee, Theri, which features Vijay, Samantha and Amy Jackson in the lead, and made at a cost of Rs 100 crore by Thaanu was released on Thursday, Tamil New Year Day. Much to their shock, at Shanthi theatre in Coimbatore, members of Vijay Fan Club allegedly found that a video camera was recording the film, right from rolling of title card and informed police who arrested the violators. By that time about half an hour footage had been recorded.
At a hurriedly convened press conference by the Federation of Tamil film industry comprising Tamil Film Producers Council (TFPC), Nadigar Sangam, Directors Association, Fefsi, T. Siva, secretary, TFPC, said, “At a time when we (producers) are suffering from grey market from where pirated CDs of various films originate, what has happened to Theri from within us has come as a rude shock. Had it not been noticed, the film would have been fully recorded and would have gone viral on internet”. A resolution was passed that the federation would not extend any cooperation to Polimer TV. Also, Theri did not get released in 75 per cent of the screens in Chengalpet, one of the money spinning areas for Tamil movies.
We did not engage in video piracy: Polimer
Stoutly denying allegations of its linesmen engaging in video piracy and shooting Theri film in a theatre in Coi0mbatore, Polimer Media Private Ltd has said the producer 'Kalaipuli' S. Thaanu was making malicious allegations and its cameramen were not involved in filming the movie screened only for Vijay fans. In a statement, Polimer Media said Thaanu has resorted to exact revenge for channels exposing fleecing of filmgoers by overcharging tickets. This was against a Madras high court order.
The Polimer TV cameramen shot the reaction of Vijay fans during the screening of the first show of Theri in Shanthi Theatre on Thursday. The cameramen were apprehended by Vijay fans and handed over to police. At an enquiry conducted at Coimbatore commissioner's office, the cameramen proved their innocence and the cameras were returned to them after scrutiny. The police found that only reactions of Vijay fans were recorded in the cameras. Film producers Thaanu and Thenappan were repeatedly issuing warnings against Polimer TV.
