Big films will not release in multiplexes

Siddharth Roy Kapur,CEO of UTV Motion Pictures,admitted the standoff could result in a glut of big releases at the same time,squeezing profits,but added it was an issue that needed to be addressed soon. Mahesh Bhatt concurred that the problem must be nipped in the bud.

In recent times several have suffered due to the uncertainty surrounding a release. Dev D and Delhi 6 are examples. Dev D premiered at Chandan an old time single screen theatre due to the impasse and no bookings could be made for Delhi 6 due to the unavailability of the schedule until the eve of release. In times when advance bookings for opening weekend determines the success and failure of a movie,this has been bad news. Compounding problems is the dependency of producers and distributors on multiplexes.

The United Producers’ Forum is demanding a 50-50 division. As of now,the profit share ratio for distributors varies between 45 to 50 per cent in the first week,depending on territory.

At the press conference convened to air their grievances against the multiplex lobby,there was a rare show of solidarity- Bhatt brothers Mahesh and Mukesh of Vishesh Films,Yash Chopra (Yash Raj Films),Siddharth Roy Kapoor (UTV Films),Sandeep Bhargava (The Indian Film Company),Kishore Lulla (Eros) and Ramesh Sippy (Film Distributors President) all came together to announce their fight for equality. Producer Ramesh Taurani and filmmaker Ramesh Sippy were also with them.

The forum was critical of the manner in which multiplexes conduct a one-sided negotiation. “Globally there is a fixed revenue share ratio that is not dependent on the starcast or the budget of the film,but in India it is not so,” complained Mukesh Bhatt,chairman of the forum.

Multiplex operators were either unavailable or refused to comment. It is learnt that they too are likely to hold a news conference to highlight their side of the story.