Producers of Aelay have said that the film will premiered on Star Vijay Feb 29th. Though no reason was given the move was obviously a fall out of the clash between TN Theaters body and the Tamil Film Producers Fraternity led by Bharathiraaja over the former insisting that producer Shashikanht of YNOT , whose film Aelay due on Feb 12 give an undertaking that there will be no OTT release for 30 days from release date. Producer has refused to give any such declaration on the grounds that it was a unilateral decision taken by theaters.
The film Aelay directed by Halitha Shameem is rural comedy
subject with Samudrakanni and Manikanthan ( Kaalai) playing father and son.
Halitha’s anthology, Sillukarupatti
had got good response is directing this film. Sashikanth under the YNot Studios
banner and filmmaker duo, Pushkar-Gayatri as its creative producers
are behing Aalay. Shashikanth‘s film Jagame Thandiram (JT) starring Dhanush is
headed for an OTT release and this had caused many heartburns in the theater
circles. Dhanush and his fans have made public their preference for a theater
release.
The
Aelay problem cropped up as it was a own release and theater’s had no risk and
they were not paying any advance money. In this situation a lock-in period of
30 days for OTT release was not needed. Keeping the JT in mind, theater
association said that new diktat cannot be waived for any one person. The
matter then went to the Producers body. As the theater’s had taken a decision,
post Master , to bring this rule without talking to producer’s,, a meeting to
sort it out was needed. Exhibitors were not for any talks. A 50 day gap is needed for a Star film.
Producer’s
pointed out that the 30 day lock in period for small budgeted and non star cast
films was not needed. Bharathiraaja pointed out that the same people who hailed
Master producer as God , later cussed them. He pointed out that without mutual
agreement, nothing can be implemented. Hiding the comb will not stop a marriage
said Bharathiraaja to the exhibitors who are fighting the OTT.
Kerala Film Chamber has put in a 42 day lockin period for OTT release and said it would consider small budget producer’s plea to waive this on merit basis. OTT was paying only Rs 2-3 cr for a Malayalam film and this would mostly help small budget films. First Star film in Malayalam to be directly released on OTT is Drishyam 2 starring MohanLal and Meena and directed by Jithu who did the first part. Coming on Feb 19th at Mazon Prime, the film’s remakes in South were hits. It was also remade in Hindi with Ajay Devgan, but was a flop.
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