Audiences to decide Fair and Lovely release

In Sandalwood, there are several factors that decide the release date of a film. For starters, even if a plan is in place, filmmakers are apparently forbidden from announcing a date until the film gets censor clearance. Once that is sorted, the distributor fixes a date, which, more often than not, hinges on the availability of a ‘main’ theatre in the heart of Gandhinagar.
If Fair and Lovelydirector Raghuram has his way, that may just change. The filmmaker is launching an online poll for audiences to determine the release date and window for his film. “In the next couple of days we will have a campaign on social media. We are looking at giving audiences options such as September 19, September 26, October 3 and October 10. Participants will have the option to vote online, email us their options, or even SMS us,” says Raghu.
Two of those Fridays have been booked by big ticket releases, and while Raghu would ideally want to avoid a clash and ensure he gets a main theatre, he asserts that he will bring his film to theatres even without a main theatre.
(With inputs from Mahesh H)