Kollywood is jittery as Central Health Ministry has issued a advisory to take steps to enforce lockdown. TN CM Stalin is meeting top ranking Health officials to decide on future course in view of the Central directive. As of now Chennai shuts down from midnight to 5 AM and whether this timing will be start from evening onwards will be decided. Already few lanes in Ashok Nagar in metro has been sealed due to ten houses inmates reporting Covid positive. Though only Chennai airport is reported arrival of passengers with Omicron and none within the city, Covid cases have doubled in December. Central Ministry has given figures that show cases reported at start of month and last week show doubling in Chennai.
Close to Rs 100 crores is running on business of Ajith's Valimai releasing on January 13th and RRR on Jan 7th. Chennai being the highest box office earner, cancellation of night show would be a disaster. RRR too has done a big business deal for TamilNadu and Lyca has already invested on promotions. Theaters have advanced money.
Shifting of release dates would spell disaster for both the films. The damage is more for RRR as heavy money has been already spend. Rs 20 crores is the promotional budget of RRR. Valimai as we reported earlier has not spend any money . However theaters - distributors who advanced money would be at a disadvantage. Madurai Anbu who bought Valimai from Boney Kapoor is close to DMK bosses. So also Lyca that acquired RRR for Rs 45 crores. Lyca has got theatres for two week booking. Cutting across party lines, money flows in theater and distribution trade and any last minute hurdle could affect both the Dravidian parties.
Theaters have started booking for shows starting at midnight without even without getting local bodies clearance and each ticket is sold at Rs 2000 per person. Ajith fans in Coimbatore have given in writing to the District Collector with proof of these illegal show and ticket rates and asked for a crackdown.
Likely scenarion is that the State would go in for a total lockdown like closure of public places and theaters till January 7th in Chennai. If cases do not drop , it would continue or if there is a marked dip, it would be withdrawn partially with 50 % attendance restriction, feels trade.
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