Thursday, February 11, 2021

UPDATE ; Aelay on Star Vijay Feb 29th as TN theaters - Producer clash over Aelay OTT release -

 


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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