MUMBAI: There seems to be no respite on the squabble between the national multiplex chains and film producers / distributors on revenue sharing terms for movies. Prior to every big movie release, there are rounds of negotiations on terms. This week too as UTV Motion Pictures’ Delhi 6 is gearing up to release tomorrow (20 February), the two parties are going back and forth negotiating the terms until the nth hour.

According to information available with Businessofcinema.com, while UTV and national multiplex chains have settled terms for Bombay territory, Delhi City and Gujarat, the rest of India was a point of debate till early Thursday evening.  

Since an agreement has not been arrived at between the two parties until now, the film will not hit any national multiplex cinema screen on Friday morning, even though the terms for Bombay Delhi and Gujarat have been settled. "As of now we will only release Delhi 6 in single screens and independent multiplex screens, which total upto 750 screens, the prints for which have already been dispatched. We are very sure that we will not budge from what terms we have asked for," informs UTV vice president distribution Suniel Wadhwa.

While Bombay and Delhi has been settled for a revenue share of 48:52 and 38:62; Gujarat’s terms are 45:55 and 35: 65 (UTV:multiplexes) for the first two weeks, whereas the rest of India is being negotiated for 50:50 and 40:60 revenue share by UTV and 48:52 and 38:62 by the multiplexes.

This year’s other big releases Chandni Chowk To China and Billu were settled for a revenue share of 48:52 and 38:62 (distributor:multiplexes) for the first two weeks for all India.

Pertinent to note here is that after the release of Delhi 6 there is no commercial and masala film release till May end until Kambakkth Ishq.

It may also be recalled that prior to the release of UTV Spotboy’s Dev D, the same issue had taken place. However, national multiplex chains agreed to the producer’s revenue sharing terms on the eve of the film’s release.
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