GUEST COLUMN by Venkat Subha
As of November 2014, 190 films have released in 2014. In addition to the 8 films that got released on December 5th, 9 important films will add on to that list before the end of the year namely Lingaa, Pisasu, Kayal, Isai, Vellakarai Durai, Enakkul Oruvan, Kappal and Meaghamann, in addition to 5 – 8 more small budget films, thus taking the total to 212 to 215 films in 2014, which is a record release of straight films in Tamil cinema. Lingaa will achieve the distinction of being the 200th film of 2014, the first ever 200th straight Tamil film in a single year!!!
5 more films (Anegan, Kaakki Sattai, I, Aambala, Yennai Arindhaal) are scheduled to arrive before and after Pongal. In this situation, many films like Vai Raja Vai, Idam Porul Eval, Nambiar etc. with known star cast are ready to hit the screens but there prevails an uncertainty over their release dates.
Out of the close to 198 films released in 2014 till December 5th, how many do you think are genuinely successful films at the box-office?
Genuinely successful means profit for producers, distributors, and theatre owners. Everyone. My list is based on the inside information procured from various producers, distributors and exhibitors.
Only twelve films have emerged as genuinely successful at the ticket window out of the 200-odd films. They include Goli Soda, Thegidi, Yaamirukka Bayame, Sathuranga Vettai, Kathai Thiraikathai Vasanam Iyakkam, Manjapai, Velai Illa Pattadhari, Aranmanai, Mundasupatti, Madras, Naaigal Jaakiradhai and Maan Karate. Only these twelve films have managed to churn out good profits across-the-board.
And, there are some films which turned out be moderately, decently successful at the box-office. Despite the losses incurred, they earned widespread critical acclaim. Films which fall into this category include Cuckoo, Vaayai Moodi Pesavum, Jigarthanda, Salim, Arima Nambi, Oru Kanniyum Moonu Kalavanigalum, Kochadaiiyaan, Thirudan Police, Ennamo Nadakkudhu, Nimirndhu Nil, Idhu Kadhirvelan Kadhal and Naan Sigappu Manidhan.
Below is a list of big-ticket films with familiar star cast and their fate at the box office. I’m sure it will be a hard pill to swallow for some.
- News that Kaththi has brought loss to producers is very hard to believe in the tinsel town, but is nevertheless true. The main reason was the high cost of the film, which is estimated to be in the region of Rs.80 crores, against Vijay’s earlier film Jilla which costed around Rs.55 crore only. Word has it that though distributors got their principal amount covered, they couldn’t enjoy any substantial profit from the film. Considering the theatre owners and taking the minimum guarantee into account, many theatres did suffer a marginal loss.
- Poojai, though a loss to ‘actor’ Vishal, it is profitable to the ‘producer’ Vishal courtesy smartness in handling business. It fetched him good name as a pre-planned, reliable producer
- Yaan and Kaaviya Thalaivan suffered huge losses. The good word-of-mouth publicity for the latter didn’t help in boosting the box-office prospects. In fact, Kollywood is shocked to know that the Producer Y’Not Film’s Sashikanth lost close to Rs.10 crore against a budget of Rs.20 crore of the film (including print & publicity cost)
- Veeram brought profit to some distributors. Apart from that, news is that producers have suffered a marginal loss
- Vanmham has brought unbearable loss to producers and Jaihind 2 has brought loss to all distributors
- Anjaan is a film where the producer alone borne the whole losses from distribution as Thirrupathi Bros released on their own in most territories and suffered in the process.
Apart from a handful of films mentioned above, nearly 162 films released so far have suffered around 60%-90% loss.