MUMBAI: The year gone by has seen most number of companies up in arms against multiplexes over revenue sharing terms for some of their movies. Even as the year is coming to end this stalemate goes on. Now Welcome’s all India distributors Studio 18 and multiplexes are battling over the movie’s revenue sharing terms.The movie is scheduled to release on 21 December. 

At the time of filing this story Studio 18 officials remained unavailable for comment. However sources close to the negotiations inform, “The trade is rife about Welcome’s rights being sold for all territories at prices close to that received by Om Shanti Om. Hence Studio 18 as its All India Distributor thinks it fit to get same revenue terms as OSO.”
 
Om Shanti Om got a share of 50, 42½ from the Bombay multiplexes for the first two weeks. For the other cities the revenues agreed upon were 50, 45.

The movie in conflict, Welcome brings together the kings of comedy- Akshay Kumar and director Anees Bazmee (No Entry). It is being touted as the biggest laugh riot for the year 2007. If we glance back at the year 2007, the top 10 grossing films at the Indian box office are Om Shanti Om, Chak De India, Partner, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Heyy Babyy, Guru, Namastey London, Tara Rum Pum, Shootout At Lokhandwala, Dhaamal.

From the above mentioned films, the multiplexes granted favorable terms to only 3 films, Om Shanti Om – 50, 45, Chak De India – 50, 45 and Tara Rum Pum – 50, 45. Other films like Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, Laaga Chunari Main Daag and Aaja Nachle failed to perform well at the box office but were lucky to receive the benefit of 50:45 terms.
 
The revenue earning capacity of Welcome is expected to equal or even surpass that of the other comic flicks such as Heyy Babby, Bhool Bhulaiya and Partner. In such a scenario, where the film is expected to drive major revenue for the multiplexes, Studio 18 feels it is justified to grant Welcome those terms. 
 
Welcome stars Akshay Kumar, Anil Kapoor, Nana Patekar, Paresh Rawal, Firoz Khan, Katrina Kaif and Mallika Sherawat. Welcome is produced by Firoz Nadiadwala. The worldwide rights were acquired by UTV which in turn sold them to Studio 18 for a whooping amount of Rs 52 crore (excluding audio rights). Studio 18 has sold most territories to sub-distributors; they are distributing the movie in Bombay city, Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad.
 
Welcome is releasing alongside Aamir Khan’s directorial debut Taare Zameen Par. The movie is co produced and distributed by multiplex chain PVR.

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