Rajinikanth's Annaathe adopts Kerala model distribution

Sun Pictures Annaathe starring Rajinikanth- Nayanthara has  adopted the Kerala model of film distribution in Tamil Nadu. Ironically, Antony Perumbavoor is asking Kerala theaters  to adopt the MG system of Tamil Nadu for Marakkar. Similarly, Sun Pictures has directly entered overseas market and entrusted Real Image the company that operates Qube digital transmission in India to distribute worldwide. Instead of selling it outright and not knowing  collection figures and countries it was screened, Real Image would provide a full details and take a service charge on it. In fact this would be an eyeopener to the real business of Tamil cinema abroad.

Usually, a star film is sold to a single distributor and he in turn re-sells it to various distributors in districts. These distributors in turn take a MG ( minimum guarantee) from theaters and passed on to main distributor. If the film collections fall short of MG, the distributor has to pay back to theaters and if it exceeds, the outflow is shared as per mutual agreements.

 Sun Pictures entrusted Udhayanidhi Stalin's Red Giant to call all theater owners to Chennai and ask them to deposit an advance amount as per their calculation. After a price was agreed among theater owners in districts and profit sharing percentage, the agreements were drawn up between them and Sun Pictures. Red Giant was only a facilitator and got a fee for it. This way theaters had no compulsion to pay as per distributor demand and amount was safe with a brand like Sun Pictures. Profit sharing rates were uniform  for all single screens and usually here it varied according to locations but it was not so this time. Multiplexes who are united and governed by corporates always had a unified sharing percentage. 

Theaters did not have to cough up heavy amounts to get the film and take it to a blind game of gambling. This way, Sun Pictures got the real picture of collections through Red Giant that monitored it.  In Kerala, Sun distributes the film through PVR theater  chain on just advance amount. Usually a non Malayalam film  is bought outright and no body knows what it collected. Same applies to Karnataka. Only in Andhra, it has been sold outright.

This system does away with district wise distributors and giving them commission. Distributors are not overtly worried as only big banners with Superstars can do business this way . Others would be cash starved and want to make a fast buck at the earliest. In USA alone, Annaathe has got 550 screens and for first time the names have been listed.

Lyca to produce Rajinikanth next- efforts to avoid Thalaivar - Thala clash for Diwali

 

Rajinikanth next film will be produced by Lyca Productions and will be directed by a senior director   reveals a source. Sun Pictures and Boney Kapoor producers of Rajinikanth;s Annaatthe and Valiamai respectively are in talks with theaters associations to chalk out a plan by which both do not clash for Diwali. Thalapathy Vijay's first Telugu film directed by Vamsi will be holding a pooaj a on Ayudha pooja day said a source close to producer Dil Raju. The film will start shooting in Febuary next year and hit theaters for Diwali next year.

Many producers opted out as the budget given by the directors chosen by Rajinikanth were found to be risky in time of panendemic..  A sloution has come through and and a seasoned not so young director  This director has directed young heroes too. His story line and the budget seemed reasonable. Subaskaran of Lyca who is in town has been told about this project. He might pick it up says sources.

As Thala Ajith's Valiamai post production work is over and ready for release, there is  a thought that the release should not be postponed and should hit Diwali. Sun Pictures had already  announced that Rajini film was releasing for Diwali 2021. As there is no increase in Covid cases in Tamil Nadu and other parts of South,( except Kerala)< Boney Kapoor is keen to push the film to theaters as fast as possible.

As theaters in Tail Nadu are running for 50% occupancy, theater owners feel that sharing off screens will be a loss to them and instead spacing out would be a better option. Sources say the film is ready for Pooja holiday release . Efforts are to release Thala Ajith film by October end .  Rajinikanth film is facing a loss of revenue from North India as theater attendance for recent releases were poor. Kerala which also is  one of the big market for Rajini film is closed. Fans of Thala claim that director Siva had naratted Annaatthe story by he chose to not do it. Siva had directed three hits with Ajith. So it translates into a clash between Ajith's hit director  and Thala.