Update :Thalaivi Hindi release in trouble : PVR- Inox- Cinepolis not to screen

PVR cinemas in a statement said that their theaters in Tamil Nadu and AP/ TS would screen Thalaivi but not the Hindi version as  it was not acceptable to the two week theatrical release. Kangana Ranaut's Thalaivi will not be screened by PVR- Inox and Cinepolis chain of theaters in North India. We had reported that Tamil Nadu theaters had refused to screen the film as it had only a two week gap between Amazon Prime OTT release ( https://southfilmy.blogspot.com/2021/09/kangana-raut-thalaivi-tamil-version.html) dt; Sept 1..  Amazon Prime who holds the South language version rights has agreed to make it a four week gap and cut down on the agreed amount . This has paved the way for Tamil - Telugu release.

Netflix on the other hand is not complying with request of producer for Hindi version. It is either take it or leave it by Netflix. National chains of multiplexes say that they just concluded a deal with YashRaj films by which films will released only after four weeks on OTT. Bell Bottom and Chehere too agreed. Now making a concession for Thalaivi would make all the earlier agreements ineffective.

It is for the first time that a film signed a deal with two OTT platforms for different language version of a film. Totally the producer is said to have got Rs 55 crores.  The reason for this deal to be accepted is that Thalaivi's Hindi language print is certified separately as it is not a dubbed one. Separate Master print  for Tamil- Telugu and Hindi were taken and shooting was done three times for a scene. Censor certificates for each language do not carry the dubbed stamp.

Kangana Ranaut tweeted that " “In these times we must support each other and not bully or arm twist; it’s our fundamental right to recover the cost of our film which we did, we may have two weeks window for Hindi version but for South we have four weeks window yet multiplexes ganging up on us and stopping our release there as well…This is unfair and cruel in these testing times when major territories like Maharashtra are also shut…Please let’s help each other in order to save theatres.”

In Tamil Nadu single screens outnumber multiplexes chains. In North India, the national chains rule the exhibition sector. If Netflix sticks to its stance, Hindi version will release before Amazon's Tamil- Telugu versions. I

Kangana Ranaut `Thalaivi' Tamil version release blocked

 Kangana Ranaut's Thalaivi 's Tamil theatrical release will not take place if Amazon Prime sticks to the agreement , says an inside source.  Tamil Nadu Exhibitors Association has asked the producer- distributors to redraw the agreement with Amazon Prime  and extend the OTT release date from two weeks to four weeks of the theater release. Amazon Prime has stated that once it starts renegotiating agreements, the move would open a Pandora's box. However the Hindi version has no such problem. It has been bought by Netflix and would release it after four weeks of theater release. Telegu exhibitors too have no such hassle with OTT release. Naga Chaitanya - Sai Pallavi's Love Story seems to be the film they would bet on.

After Vijay's Master release, the producers handed over the OTT release dates much before the one month  cooling period. TN exhibitors had issued a circular that hereafter films that have an agreement that they will come on OTT after 30 days of theater release will get screens. The Tamil Film Producers Association ( TAPA) had asked it's members to not sign any such undertaking. After that there was a standoff and YNOT Studios released two of their films ( Jagame Thanthiram of Dhanush) in OTT. However Kalaipuli Dhanu and S R Prabhu took the theater route. The second lockdown came and issue was kept aside.

The major market of the film is in Tamil Nadu as Jayalalithaa is still GOD to lakhs . The Aravind Swamy- Kangana photos with similarity to MGR- Jayalalithaa has set expectations high. The film was the biggest hope of theaters to bring crowds after the second opening. When the Hindi version songs were released and promo teaser on air, Tamil version was in mute mode.

It is  to be seen whether Amazon Prime would relent . Posters announcing the Hindi release has already put out and theaters confirmed. Will the Hindi version release be delayed if Tamil is not released simultaneously ?. Those in the know say that the film focus is on how Jayalalithaa rose to be movie Queen in Kollywood and less on her political battles.. The producer is an Andhraite and co- producers are Mumbai corporates.  Director Vijay's has a production banner and registered with Tamil Film roducer's Council. Either Amazon should relent or the ruling party (DMK) should talk to the exhibitors to make an exception.

Sarapatta Paramabrai, the Arya starrer that was a Prime premiere release . After the  OTT release , exhibitors were willing to run it till bigges came in.  Prime turned it down and now it is to have a TV premiere on Kalaignar TV.