Level-playing field for low-budget films

In a bid to create a level-playing field for low-budget films, the Tamil Film Producers Council (TFPC) has come out with a plan which envisages release of mega films only on festival days and public holidays. The plan specifies Pongal, Tamil New Year's Day, May Day, Independence Day and Deepavali.

While small films also can be released on these five days, the release of big-budget films is restricted to the five days that are specified.

The plan will come into effect from February 1.

TFPC vice-president says this restriction on big films will help small budget films, which struggle to find theatres for release. Last year, there were 142 releases and of them only four were super hits and four madee some profit for their producers. Seventy per cent of the small films had remained in cans for non-availability of theatres.

The council has also decided to restrict the number of films releasing per week to a maximum of three straight films and two dubbed films.

At a press meet on Feb.10, TFPC chairman S.A. Chandrasekhar said of the 100 films produced every year, only 8 per cent are big-budget films. The remaining 92 per cent are low-budget films that are struggling. As many as 300 films are awaiting release and as a result about Rs.1,000 crore is locked up.

Abirami Ramanathan, president of the Tamil Nadu Cinema Theatre Owners Federation, welcoming TFPC decision, said it augurs well for the entire industry.