No movie bandh, but will the truce last?

Updated on: 19 November,2009 08:29 AM IST |
Manju Shettar |

As producers make peace with exhibitors, MiD DAY goes behind the scenes to check out what really is in store for Bangalore's movie buffs

As producers make peace with exhibitors, MiD DAY goes behind the scenes to check out what really is in store for Bangalore's movie buffs

The film bandh, called from January 1, is off, but producers are still smarting under this year's losses.

Producers had called a bandh of all cinemas in Bangalore to demand a change in the way movie halls deal with them. The bandh would have affected films in all languages.

Going through bad times: A still from Gilli

With 105 releases and more coming, 2009 has been Kannada filmdom's most prolific year ever. Only four have made profits, while four others have recovered their money.

An example of why producers are unhappy comes from the makers of Gilli.

Their collection for three weeks was Rs 18 lakh but they ended up paying Rs 12 lakh towards theatre rent.

"Gilli has been running at Sapna for five weeks now," said dierector Raghav Loki. "But look at our plight!"

Producers want movie halls not to charge rent, but share box office revenue with producers.

Till 1960, they followed the percentage system, but when collections fell badly, exhibitors demanded a switch to the rent system.

A meeting last week arrived at an agreement, and exhibitors are accepting the percentage system with conditions.

"We have conditions about TV screening and earnest deposits before we accept the percentage system," said Chandrashekar, president of the Film Exhibitors' Association. "But frankly, the industry should think about good scripts instead fighting over business models."

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