Telecast rider on Tamil films - confusion over new releases

Film producers are taken aback by the latest Tamil Film Distributors Federation's directive that a Tamil film can be aired on a satellite television only after three years from the date of its release. The condition applies to all films released through distributors or directly by producers. The Federation's directive has put the producers in a spot. Producers recover 10 per cent to 20 per cent of the project cost if they sell satellite rights. If the directive is implemented, the producers will lose this source of income.

Sources in the Tamil Film Producers Council expressed fears that satellite channels may not offer a good price if the film is to be telecast after three years.

The three-year rider existed before, but a section of the producers released their films on their own without going through the distributors.

The latest directive of the Federation adds to the woes of producers and strains the relations between the producers and distributors as the directive applies both to them.

The council held a meeting recently to review the situation. Because of this there is confusion over the release of new films. The producers of two small-budget films have postponed the release while the producer of "Chinna" featuring Arjun and Sneha has decided to go ahead. "Priyasakhi", starring Madhavan and Sada is due for release on July 22. And a few more films are getting ready for release anytime between now and August.

In the circumstances, the producers find themselves in a pretty bad situation. The Sun Network, the largest buyer of film rights for television in the south, said that the three-year pre-condition is not justified compared to other regional language markets. It cited the Telugu film industry where a Telugu movie can be telecast by satellite channels one year after its release.