MUMBAI: The fate of Hindi movie releases in the near future looms at large as negotiations between film producers, distributors and exhibitors hit a brick wall each time round. The concerned parties have still not arrived at a mutually agreeable solution for revenue share terms of forthcoming movies.
As was first reported by Businessofcinema.com the Producers’ Guild decided not to release any new movies from 3 April onwards. The decision still stands two weeks after it was made! Producers still haven’t begun marketing new movies on any media. However, the Guild has made an exception for Percept Picture Company’s Akshay Kumar starrer Tasveer directed by Nagesh Kukunoor, which will release on 3 April, and the strike will now commence from 4 April.
Speaking to Businessofcinema.com, Producers’ core committee chairperson Mukesh Bhatt says, “Only Percept’s Tasveer will release on 3 April, after which there will be no releases in cinemas until a solution is arrived at. The exhibitors need to understand that producers are asking for legitimate prices.”
When queried as to for how long movies will not release in cinemas, Bhatt says, “If there is no solution, then we may have to explore the alternative of releasing movies in single screens only.”
For Tasveer, which will release in cinemas on 3 April, the revenue sharing terms are yet to be negotiated between Percept and the exhibitors. “We are working round the clock for Tasveer’s release on 3 April,” Percept Picture Company IPR and distribution head Ashok Ahuja tells Businessofcinema.com.
Due to the tussel over revenue sharing terms, some of the films that are likely to be put on hold include Vishesh Films’ Jashan, Anil Kapoor Films and Studio 18’s Shortkut, Vashu Baghnani and Reliance Big Pictures’ Kal Kissne Dekha and Mukta Arts’ Paying Guest.
