Tamil Nadu - Chennai

A scintillating year for film industry

— PHOTO: M. KARUNAKARAN.

EAGER FANS: 2008 will bring a lot. A scene at a theatre on Monday.

CHENNAI: “Very eventful” — his is how most theatre and multiplex owners in the city describe 2007 for their clan. In fact, Chennai Theatre Owners’ Association president Abirami Ramanathan deems 2007 Kollywood’s best year in the last 20 years.

“The cap on ticket prices on the one side, we have seen more regulations in ticket sales, which is a healthy trend,” Mr.Ramanathan, who is also managing director of Abirami Mega Mall, remarks.

In January 2007, the State Government issued an order according to which all theatres were required to offer 10 per cent of their capacity at Rs. 10 per ticket.

Mr. Ramanthan says the year saw more flexibility in number of screens for a particular film. “We had ‘Sivaji’ showing in as many as 18 screens. Quick recovery of money invested is always safer.” And this trend, he says, will motivate corporates to consider production of big films. “This year has been excellent in many ways. Good films, success rates and very promising signs,” he adds.

Sathyam Cinemas Chief Operating Officer Tan Ngaronga says the cap on pricing of tickets did not have a tangible impact. He is eagerly looking forward to Kamal Haasan’s ‘Dasavatharam’ and ‘Sultan’ the animation film featuring actor Rajinikanth.

Some like Inox general manager Vinod Babu feel the cap on ticket pricing is a limiting factor. “Ideally we would like a flexible ticket pricing system. But overall, we are happy with the phenomenal response to multiplexes,” he says. “Market forces should dictate the price.”

While theatre owners unanimously choose ‘Shivaji’ as the film of the year, they are happy with the success of small budget films such as ‘Mozhi’ and ‘Chennai 28’.

As for future plans, many seem to be considering rapid expansion in 2008.

Sathyam, for instance, proposes to have its multiplex with eight screens (at the site opposite Spencer’s Plaza) ready by late 2008. Inox and Abirami, too, are finalising sites for expansion in the city and other parts of the State.

In December 2007, Soundarya Rajinikanth said she would dedicate her film ‘Sultan’ to her father for his birthday in 2008. Kamal Haasan’s ‘Dasavatharam’ is expected to come out on Tamil New Year Day. He is now in the United States trying out make-up styles for ‘Marmayogi’, his project after ‘Dasavatharam’. ‘Marmayogi’, written and directed by the actor himself, would have actor Hemamalini in an important role.

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