Vishu release - 5 pitched against Sivaji

It's going to be 5 pitched against 1 this Vishu as far as film releases in Kerala are concerned. While five Malayalam films, namely Big B, Chotta Mumbai, Vinodayatra, Panthayakozhi and Black Cat are all set for release this Vishu season, these films will have to face tough competition against a film from across the border - Sivaji, the Tamil film with Rajnikanth in lead role.

Sivaji, the AVM production directed by Shankar, has been taken up for distribution in Kerala by Johnny Sagarika for a hefty sum which has as yet been undisclosed. It is also reported that Johnny Sagarika had bought the distribution rights from Palakkad-based G.R.S. Films, who had earlier bought the Kerala distribution rights for Rs. 3.10 crores. Grapevine has it that G.R.S Films has sold the rights for the entire state except for Palakkad District.

Johnny Sagarika has big plans for Sivaji. He is reportedly planning to release the film in 60 centers on April 12 including in three theatres each in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram and in two theatres each in some of the smaller towns. This is unprecedented as far as the release of a Tamil movie in Kerala is concerned. Of course Rajnikanth has a good fan following in Kerala and so too Shankar. If the Rajnikanth magic and the Shankar factor work out well in the state, Sivaji will give the five Malayalam releases a run for their money.