Kollywood arc lights fade in 2009 too

It started in 2008 itself with the industry witnessing a spate of big-budget flops, this year is no better. With a strike rate of just three hits in 50 releases so far, Tamil film industry seems to be going through a rough patch. The January-May period last year had Rs 170 crore riding on 54 movies and the industry saw an average recovery of 60 per cent. "The needle has swung more towards the left this time. Kollywood has seen 51 releases this year, made at a combined budget of Rs 159 crore. But, the industry has managed to recoup only a little over Rs 75 crore, a recovery rate of under 50 per cent," according to an entertainment trade analyst.

In an industry where star power is acknowledged as supreme, last year proved to be a surprise, with low-profile movies like Saroja and Subramaniapuram making it big. This year too, Image Creations' small budget Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu found favour with the audience. Estimated to have been made at a budget of around Rs 3 crore, the movie managed to rake in Rs 7 crore at the box office (BO), despite a debutante director and a cast of rank newcomers. Vijaya Productions' Danush-Tamannastarrer Padikathavan (distributed by Sun Pictures) opened Kollywood's hit counter this year, earning Rs 12-14 crore at the BO. "A formula film, it did well at the theatres, firstly, because it was marketed aggressively. And secondly, coming from the Sun Pictures stable, they were able to contain piracy," said an industry observer.

But, the biggest hit so far this year has been Ayan, produced by AVM Productions and distributed by Sun Pictures. AVM sold satellite and theatre release rights of the Rs 22 crore Surya-starrer to Sun Picture for Rs 18 crore. Released in the first week of April, the movie has grossed nearly Rs 38 crore so far. With Ayan still going strong a month after release, the production house is expected to make good money on the domestic video front. Barring these three and a few A-centre hits like Siva Manasula Sakthi (SMS), Yavarum Nalam and Pasanga, most movies have failed to break even at the BO. But movies that did well stayed in theatres for more than 30 days, some even 50. "Average occupancy levels have gone down this year compared to early last year mainly because not many good movies have been released so far," said a senior official of a multiplex in the city who did not wish to be named.

On a brighter note, the number of big-banner flops have gone down in 2009 Q1 - limited to Ayngaran International's Villu, Mariyadhai (produced by T Siva, starring Vijaykanth and Meena) and 1977(produced by and starring Sarath Kumar). Typically, the April-May period is considered good for releasing movies. But with the ongoing second edition of the Indian Premier League and the election season, many producers have put off release to May-end.

A Televisionpoint News