"In order to avoid the fate of Eros and its movie Aa Dekhen Zara, which did not find its way to the national multiplex screens, Percept has signed its entire line up of movies comprising Tasveer, Bum Bum Bole, Yeh Hosla, Raat Gayi Baat Gayi and Aashayein. Finacially, PPC is in the doldrums, hence it could not afford to take the risk of not releasing Tasveer in national multiplex chains and incur loss of crores of rupees,” informs a source close to Percept.
Percept Picture Company CEO Navin Shah refused to comment on the matter when contacted by Businessofcinema.com. Pertinent to note here is that it was for Percept’s Tasveer that the Guild had agreed upon 4 April as the date of strike.
Another source confirms, “Yes, Percept has signed up its entire line up movies with the multiplexes because they did not want Tasveer to suffer.”
It is further learnt that while Tasveer has been signed up at a revenue share of 48:52 (producers:multiplexes) and 38:62 for the first two weeks, all the other films have been signed up for 45:55 and 35:65 revenue share terms for the first and second week respectively.
At the time of filing this story, Producers core committee chairperson Mukesh Bhatt remained unavailable for a comment despite repeated attempts. Multiplex officials too refused to comment. However, trade sources inform that in a few days from now, one or two more producers may give in and sign their movies with the multiplexes.
So even as one Akshay Kumar starrer film – Tasveer will make its way to the theatres, another film – Kambakkth Ishq (Eros International), which was earlier slated to release on 29 May, will continue to be kept on hold until the matter between producers and multiplexes is resolved.
It remains to be seen who buckles under pressure next.
