Jodhaa Akbar’s release in major multiplexes across India is still uncertain. Barring PVR group and smaller chains such as DT, SRS and Prasad no other big player has entered into a deal with the epic movie’s makers thanks to their revenue sharing conditions.
It all once again seems to head the Taare Zameen Par - Welcome way when both these movies got released on the next day in multiplexes instead of Friday.
Trade sources inform, “It has become a trend of sorts nowadays that big film producers are using arm twisting tactics to squeeze in as much revenue they can from multiplexes in the first two weeks. Jodhaa Akbar is 2008’s first big release by all means. They are asking for a revenue share of 50-45 for the first week whereas multiplexes are keen on a 48-40 settlement. Jodhaa Akbar is being released by United Motion Pictures (UMP) and is their first release for this year. It has ambitious plans to release Jodhaa Akbar with as many as 1500 prints across 26 countries.”
UMP’s executive vice president marketing, communication and distribution Siddharth Roy Kapur speaking in this regard stated, “We do not wish to compromise on lower terms for a project as gigantic as this. It is double standards by multiplexes as I am sure they shall soon be seen agreeing to Yash Raj when their biggie, Tashan is about to release. What we are demanding is a fair price for a project of this proportion.”
While Roy refused to divulge the actual ratio, he added, “I am confident the multiplexes will agree to our terms as there is no big release for at least a month ahead.”
Cinemax Groups’ Girish Wankhede told us, “We haven’t yet agreed to their demands as we feel they are quite high. I am not sure as of now whether we shall give in to them or not.”
Trade sources however are confident of multiplexes eventually giving it up with the makers considering the fact that Jodhaa Akbar producers, UTV has at least 14 movies lined up for release till October this year. JA is a big movie with a budget reportedly around Rs. 70 crore. An opening for such a film is extremely important and with today’s fastest and surest way of assuring big bucks at the box office is within first three days of its release from multiplexes, no concerned party might want to let go of this opportunity.
Welcome - TZP
Just few weeks back in end December 2008, when TZP and Welcome were slated for release, multiplexes and distributors had not arrived on mutually agreeable terms until hours before the release of the two films. Finally, things did reach middle ground. It was with a condition that these same terms be maintained for all movies in 2008 irrespective of the producer-distributor it comes from.
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