Pongal 2011 is just two weeks away, but all main theatres in Tamil Nadu have already been booked. Traditionally, Pongal has been the biggest festival season for Tamil cinema.
Up to the late 90s, producers used to release six to eight films (including superstar films) during this festival season as the industry considered it to be the ideal time to release a film due to the festival mood and large number of holidays in the state.
But Pongal 2011 is going to be crucial. It is the last big stretch of holiday season before Kollywood gets hit by the cricket world cup (from February 19 to April 2) and the assembly elections in Tamil Nadu (April-May).
Till date, three Tamil films have confirmed Pongal as their release date. They are Dhanush's Vetri Maaran-directed Aadukalam, Ilaignan written by Chief Minister Karunanidhi, and Karthi's Siruthai. And if all goes well, Vijay's Kavalan will join the trio. There are also half a dozen small films which are desperately looking for screen space during the festive season.
Meanwhile, theatre owners in the state are feeling the heat as all the producers are demanding bigger screens and prime time shows for their films. Says a theatre owner from Madurai, "The business of cinema has changed. Today, a big release means exhibiting a film in at least 250 to 300 screens, which in turn means that only two big star movies and one small film can be accommodated as there are hardly 900 screens in the state. For the coming Pongal, we are trying to accommodate two films per screen, meaning sharing the four shows per day between two films. But the big films are demanding all the four shows."
Among the Pongal releases, theatre owners, in private, prefer screening Kavalan, but there are too many issues involved with the film as the release of Kavalan very much depends on Vijay's next political move. The ruling party has waved an olive branch as the channel run by them has snapped up the television rights. The post production work on the movie is yet to pick up momentum. However, Vijay is playing it close to his heart and is refusing to come out with a statement delinking himself from the main opposition party in the state.
So, those films that do not get proper theatres will go to waiting list, meaning they will have to try for the next big release day — January 26. Two films — Aadukalam and Ilaignan — have been censored, and along with Siruthai, have confirmed Pongal as their release date. The small films are likely to come out for the festival if the release of Kavalan gets postponed.
Up to the late 90s, producers used to release six to eight films (including superstar films) during this festival season as the industry considered it to be the ideal time to release a film due to the festival mood and large number of holidays in the state.
But Pongal 2011 is going to be crucial. It is the last big stretch of holiday season before Kollywood gets hit by the cricket world cup (from February 19 to April 2) and the assembly elections in Tamil Nadu (April-May).
Till date, three Tamil films have confirmed Pongal as their release date. They are Dhanush's Vetri Maaran-directed Aadukalam, Ilaignan written by Chief Minister Karunanidhi, and Karthi's Siruthai. And if all goes well, Vijay's Kavalan will join the trio. There are also half a dozen small films which are desperately looking for screen space during the festive season.
Meanwhile, theatre owners in the state are feeling the heat as all the producers are demanding bigger screens and prime time shows for their films. Says a theatre owner from Madurai, "The business of cinema has changed. Today, a big release means exhibiting a film in at least 250 to 300 screens, which in turn means that only two big star movies and one small film can be accommodated as there are hardly 900 screens in the state. For the coming Pongal, we are trying to accommodate two films per screen, meaning sharing the four shows per day between two films. But the big films are demanding all the four shows."
Among the Pongal releases, theatre owners, in private, prefer screening Kavalan, but there are too many issues involved with the film as the release of Kavalan very much depends on Vijay's next political move. The ruling party has waved an olive branch as the channel run by them has snapped up the television rights. The post production work on the movie is yet to pick up momentum. However, Vijay is playing it close to his heart and is refusing to come out with a statement delinking himself from the main opposition party in the state.
So, those films that do not get proper theatres will go to waiting list, meaning they will have to try for the next big release day — January 26. Two films — Aadukalam and Ilaignan — have been censored, and along with Siruthai, have confirmed Pongal as their release date. The small films are likely to come out for the festival if the release of Kavalan gets postponed.
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