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A forum of ‘A’ class halls is against wide releasing of movies, which benefits producers as well as viewers
The State Film Exhibitors’ Federation has often stood at odds with the rest of the gang in the Malayalam film industry. Now, it is fighting an increasingly losing battle against the idea of wide releasing, which has found acceptability with just about everyone else in the industry.
The members of the federation, the apex body of ‘A’ class theatres in the State, have been the staunchest opponents of wide releasing, for they stand to lose some revenue if a movie is released across ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ class centres right on the first day of the release.
Barring a few members of the federation, it is a win-win situation for everyone else involved. For the film-maker, the wide release system ensures that the movie will reach the largest possible audience within the shortest time, rather than wait for it to move down from class to class, through several weeks. This will in turn ensure maximum returns for the producer. As for the viewer, especially for those living far away from the major release centres, this is one way that they can catch the latest release in their nearest cinemas. It is an effective counter to piracy too.
When a group of youngsters recently came out with an initiative to release new films online for a fee too, it was the Exhibitor’s Association which stood as the voice of opposition. They have already raised a protest against the plans to similarly distribute movies through cable networks by a movie-on-demand model. All these are seen as attempts at eating into their revenue, rather than as new ways of gaining additional revenue for the producer. The chance that the target of such new ventures are an entirely different audience from that which flocks to ‘A’ class theatres is never even considered. With the State government standing firm, at least for the time being, behind the idea of wide releasing, one can hope that something concrete will happen in that direction in the near future.
NEW ROLE
Set an astronomical fee and then show it as the share of investment to jointly produce a film. So, if the movie goes kaput, the loss is restricted to the often overblown salary and if it happens to be a blockbuster then make a few crores without actually investing a single penny.
It’s the unique business model gaining ground in Mollywood where actors and directors are fast turning producers and distributors leaving conventional producers high and dry.
The reigning star Nivin Pauly is the latest to adopt the model as he turns a producer for the forthcoming movie ( Action Hero Biju ) in which he is the lead. The young actor’s soaring salary will be his investment in this joint venture. He will walk all the way to the bank smiling with at least three times of his pay packet, if the movie turns a blockbuster at the box-office. “Friendship was the foundation on which films were made earlier in Malayalam. Now it’s friendship of a different kind that drives it. Here the larger and often sole motive is to scale up the individual returns,” said G. Suresh Kumar, president of the Kerala Film Producers Association. “A coterie culture has denied many a chance to take up a project. It’s for the industry to debate whether such practices are healthy and good for its future,” he added.
Industry watchers recalled that almost all the leading directors except a veteran like Joshiy had launched their own production or distribution houses to maximise their returns (Lal Jose, Anwar Rasheed, the list is growing). “Actors too had joined the bandwagon. Take Mohanlal, Mammootty, Dileep or many other names. They all have either a production or distribution line. The earlier fixed pay packet system is fading away to be replaced with the partnership model,” said Sabu Cherian, former Chairman of the Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC). “But actors may not enter this tie-up, if they have a feeling that a movie may not earn much at the box-office but will give them mileage and critical acclaim. The producer concerned will have to bear the loss in such cases,” he said.
Originally Posted by Iam RMU
