KOLLYWOOD
TRICKLES RELEASES DURING DIWALI! |
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Which movie did you see in theaters
during Diwali 2008? Tough to
recall! Most of us who are able
to remember will be thinking
of Ultimate Star’s Aegan.
There are also chances of Bharath’s
Seval making the list. Now,
we have all read the reviews
of these movies and also gauged
the public opinion. But, the
fact is these were the movies
which made merry during Diwali
last year. The reason, lack
of strong competition! This
is not to say that an Ajith
film should have a Vijay film
as its competitor. Or a Bharath’s
film with Silambarasan's or
Dhanush's or Arya's. Not really.
Any two films releasing in theaters
at the same time are competing
with each other for the audiences’
attention and almost always
the film with the bigger star
hogs all the limelight. But,
that is only for a week or so
after which the star thrill
begins to dim and the film’s
quality steps in. So, what’s
the point?
Last Diwali marked only two
major releases. They were flanked
on either sides by Silambattam
and Vaaranam Aayiram, separated
by a couple of weeks or a little
more. While they did manage
to make good business based
on positive reviews and word
of mouth, it should also be
remembered that they missed
the festival rush by a long
way.
Tamil Nadu has two major occasions
for the big releases, one is
Pongal and the other is Diwali.
There can be no better time
to get the big ones into theaters.
Everyone is |
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celebrating and catching a movie in theaters.
In fact, it is the windfall for the industry
which must be fully utilized. Yet, over
the last few years, there has been a tendency
to hold back and think twice about festival
releases. The last real big glut of releases
for a festival season can perhaps take us
back to 2005 where Superstar, Universal
Star and Ilaya Thalapathi had gone head
to head at the same time. Since then, it
has always been the lone big release with
a slightly smaller one being present with
the hope of upsetting the Goliath’s
applecart.
What Tamil cinema strategists should realize
is that they are missing out on the guarantee
festival crowds. A festival weekend maybe
the only time in the year when a family
will go to theatres to watch a movie based
on the ‘word of mouth’ review
or a pre-generated opinion. Otherwise, it
is the youth who frequent theaters. Watching
a movie during a festival is a way of celebration.
Festival rushes guarantee great openings
and the general atmosphere of goodness and
happiness might make people more generous
towards movies too.
Having said all that, 2009 has a rather
slim line up for the biggest festival of
the year. Suriya continues his timely delivery
with Aadhavan. At present, only Jayam Ravi
seems to be ready to give Suriya some competition
with Peraanmai. The much expected Vettaikaran
has all but confirmed its delay to the next
festival season and we don’t know
whether that shift will change Ajith’s
original plans for Asal.
Avoiding clashes and spacing out big releases
are good practices. But, in the process
if many of the big movies are compelled
to miss the festival rush, it can only be
detrimental to the financial status of the
industry.
Every industry, be it textiles, home appliances,
automobiles, consumer goods and even real
estate are advertising attractive festival
offers for their customers. Kollywood must
too revert to its old tradition of packing
festival seasons with the big marquee releases.
Give plenty of options for people coming
to theaters on the festive occasion. And,
celebrate the success.
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