The Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners Association has strongly condemned the plans to release Jyotika’s Pon Magal Vandhal directly on digital streaming platform Amazon Prime.
The movie, directed by JJ Fredrick, was supposed to hit the screens on March 27, but had to be postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak. Meanwhile, several reports suggested that 2D Entertainment, the producers of the film, are planning for a direct digital release in May due to the uncertainty around the reopening of theatres. Reports also stated that the rights pertaining to Pon Magal Vandhal have already been sold to the streaming platform Amazon Prime for Rs 9 crore.
Condemning this reported move by 2D Entertainment, which is owned by actor Suriya, the General Secretary of Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners Association, Panneerselvam, has released a video in which he alleged that the producers have violated an established rule about movie releases in the state.
“The rule is that movies that have been produced for theatres must be released on streaming platforms only after they are first released in movie theatres. This producer has flouted this rule and has given his movie to an OTT platform. We condemn it strongly. We contacted the producer and told him not to do this, but he didn’t listen to us. Hence we have told him to release all the movies his company produces and all the movies related to him, directly on OTT platforms. It is our collective stand that we don’t need those movies,” he said.
Speaking to TNM, Nikhilesh Surya, the Manager of Rohini Silverscreens in Chennai, said that an official decision will be taken only after theatres reopen post the lockdown.
“As of now, this is the prevailing opinion among the theatre owners. But a solid decision will be taken only after business is resumed,” he said.
Adding that big actors like Suriya have a responsibility to keep in mind the welfare of all the stakeholders while taking decisions related to releasing his movies, Nikhilesh said that the call to sell the rights of Pon Magal Vandhal to a streaming platform seems to have been taken in ‘self interest'.
Pon Magal Vandhal has actor Jyotika, who is married to Suriya, playing the central character. An interesting aspect of the movie is that it has four renowned directors – K Bagyaraj, R Parthiban, Pandiarajan and Pratap Pothen – in important roles.
Suriya, meanwhile, is awaiting the release of his much awaited film Soorarai Pottru directed by Sudha Kongara. A film based on the life of Captain GR Gopinath, founder of the budget airline Air Deccan, Soorarai Pottru is also produced by Suriya’s 2D Entertainment. The film marks the southern debut of well-known Bollywood producer Guneet Monga, who has co-produced this project. The film was scheduled for release on April 14, Tamil New Year's day, but was pushed due to the lockdown imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Soorarai Pottru also stars Aparna Balamurali, last seen in Rajiv Menon’s Sarvam Thaala Mayam, as the female lead. Apart from the lead cast, the film has Bollywood veteran Paresh Rawal, Urvashi and Tollywood veteran Mohan Babu in crucial roles.GV Prakash Kumar has composed the music for this movie.
(With inputs from Digital Native)