Straight Talk! Time for Heroes to rescue Tamil cinema

  • IndiaGlitz, [Saturday,October 14 2017]

The confusion during the past week about the new cinema ticket rates has ended with not a very desirable result for anyone concerned in the movie business.  The hike will no doubt make the multiplex owners happy as two entries in place of three will end up in business as usual for them.  The single screens, B and C center halls will no doubt begin to feel the pinch in the near future.  While a movie with a big star like Vijay's Diwali release 'Mersal' will not be affected the audience, especially the family ones will surely be reluctant to go to a theater to watch a small film however good the content is.

Vishal the President of the TFPC slammed out his views to the theatre owners regarding pricing, online booking charges, food and beverage rates and the parking fees.  Abhirami Ramanathan from the theater owner’s side has shot back by stating that they are ready to listen to Vishal’s stipulations if the heroes reduce their exorbitant remunerations and do their bit for small producers and directors of good content.

From the current scenario, one can infer that the heroes and the heroines can do their bit for Tamil cinema to rise and flourish from what looks like a certain downward swing.  In Hollywood for example a Will Smith gets paid a ransom for starring in mindless crowd pleasers like ‘Suicide Squad’ while he cuts his price down many folds to star in relevant small films like ‘Concussion’.  Ditto with his costar Margot Robbie who lends her time for ‘Goodbye Christopher Robin’.

Could'nt a similar system be instituted where a hero/heroine charges normal price for a biggie but cut down for a small one or even come up with a post release arrangement to share the income after taking a reasonable advance.   Damsel's in distress have always been rescued by the swashbuckling heroes from the time cinema in general and Tamil cinema in particular came into existence.  Now Kollywood is in distress and will the heroes turn up?