In this new episode of Redcarpet, Sreedhar Pillai analyses the Tamil Nadu box office which is slowly limping back to normalcy from the severe rain and floods that has ravaged huge part of Chennai, Chengalpet and Kancheepuram Areas. Joining him in telecon, Producer-Financier Marudai Anbu and Archana Kalpathi, the CEO of AGS Group reveal how the Kollywood box office suffered the slump during the delugue and the bright hopes of bouncing back with Dhanush's Thangamagan' and Shah Rukh Khan's Dilwale' releasing huge amid phenomenal expectations this week.

Chennai was deluged by the heavy rains and after the rains Eetti' has released and it's doing good business. That's a welcome sign in the Film industry. Eetti' has done around Rs.3.5 to 3.75 crores in three days in Tamil Nadu. Dhanush's Thangamagan' is getting a solo release.

Eetti' brings relief and Thangamagan' comes huge

Madurai Anbu, leading financier and one of the big producers of Tamil films, says Thangamagan' has achieved the highest business for a Dhanush film ever. "Highest number of centers have been allocated for the film. Above 350 screens in Tamil Nadu alone. Most of them are big screens. This is the first time that a Dhanush film is releasing without any competition. First time a Dhanush film is releasing simultaneously in Telugu."

As a person who has watched film, he says that the film will be on the lines of Yaradi Nee Mohini'. "First half will be youthful and second half will be family oriented."

Does he think that the film will do better business than Velai Illa Pattadhari'?

"We expect better collections for this film than VIP. In the case of VIP the film was known as a hit only after release. But in the case of Thangamagan' we could be assured of the success with the level of advance reservation. The response has been phenomenal. After VIP, Dhanush has gone to the next level as a Masss hero. He has become someone who has fans in all areas. So the expectation is huge."

The core area of Chennai floods has been Chennai city, Chengalpattu and Kancheepuram areas. Nearly 40-45% collections come from the flood affected areas. This is the crux of the box office collections in Tamil Nadu. According to Kalaipuli Sekaran a member of the Tamil Nadu Film Distribution Council, there was about Rs.25 crores loss during the rains.

How are the chances of Thangamagan' taking a good opening in these areas?

Anbu says. "People have started limping back to normalcy. We tried releasing Eetti'. It is a big hit now. It is the best so far in terms of collections for an Atharvaa film. Usually we release films with a mind of leaves. It's a time of Christmas and New Year holidays. So we expect that the collections will be good for three weeks. We are very confident about the film's success."

Scary rains and five days of shut down

From Archana Kalpathi CEO of AGS, one of the major multiplex players in Chennai city and suburbs, whose theaters have been badly affected by the rains in OMR, we get the first "hand account of the effect of Chennai rains in Kollywood.

"This is probably unprecedented in Chennai. Most of our multiplexes were in areas that were affected by the flooding. We had to close operations for about five days. We had to covert our theaters into relief centers and a sort of warehouse to store relief materials and take it to different places.

As soon as we open the occupancy was pretty bad. It was probably around 20%. And it has picked up. Last weekend was not great but Eetti' did very well. Dhanush's Thangamagan releasing this week has huge expectations. We have given it maximum showcasing in both our properties. Advance booking has been very strong so far. Dilwale' also has a extremely strong opening. Baji Rao Mastani' good opening but not as great as Dilwale'. I am expecting this weekend to be a good weekend for all of us."

Big number of films and added theatres

18 new screens have come up in Chennai city and Chengalpet area. I am speaking about Palazzo of SPI Cinemas which recently opened in Vadapalani Forum Vijaya Mall and PVR's new property at the Gran Mall, Velachery that has another five screens. That also will add to the movie collections. Now Things will have to improve with Dhanush's Thangamagan' and SRK's Dilwale' and Ranveer Singh's Baji Rao Mastani'.

After December 18, on Christmas day, four Tamil films are coming up. We have got Pasanga 2' and Jayam Ravi's long overdue Booloham' is also releasing and comparatively two small movies, Vemal's Anjala' and Vil Ambu'

Tamil Cinema will complete 200 films by Christmas. That's huge. And it would have been much more but for the rains.