It is proving to be endemic. We are talking about last-minute with drawals or postponements of films.

During Sankranthi, one film pull out and a couple of others failing to turn up even for the starters gun.

This seems an infectious disease.

Another big film has cried out of the Republic Day release.

Shock it is. This Ram Gopal Verma film is the one that has been postponed for release on February 2.

Some last minute hitches are said to be reason for the movie's postponement.

The movie stars Ravi Teja, Jyothika and Tabu in the leads.

The postponement almost leaves the floor open for SVK's Sarada Saradaga, which features Srikanth and Rajendra Prasad in the leads.

Meanwhile, such frequent pull-outs and postponements don't speak well of the professional standards that exist in the industry.

It points to a deeper malaise of overshooting budget and a lack of time sense.

It is usually the producers who have to pay the cost for the delays. Really, one has to pity their lot.