Massacre innocents

This year, as on August 31, there have been a record 82 releases in Tamil. Over 100 films will be in a position to release in the next four months depending on theatre dates and the financial status of their producers.
Meanwhile, out of these 82 releases so far, only three to five have been really profitable. Last Friday was a disastrous weekend for Kollywood.Six small Tamils ��������� Moscowin Kaveri, Vilai, Neeyum Naanum, Ramar, Unnakaka En Kadhal and Pudhu Mugham ��������� released and not one������managed to get an opening; even critics did not bother to review them!
Says a theatre manager, ���������It was one of the worst Fridays ever. There were so many small releases with bad content, unknown stars and nothing in them to attract the viewers. The audiences were smart; they did not spend money on unknown films, as there was no publicity for any of the new releases.���������
���������The situation is alarming,��������� admits actor Parthepan, ���������Today, an ordinary producer cannot make films in Tamil. You need to spend as much as the production cost on a new release to promote it on TV channels. But you can���������t stop first-time producers, NRIs and other cash-rich individuals, from making films. They are the ones who are keeping the industry afloat. While nobody can stop the flow of releases, something can be done to improve the content.���������
A hit creates a trend. In 2008, after Subramaniapuram turned out to be a hit, there was a boom in ���������made in Madurai��������� movies revolving around violence and friendship. This year, the trend seems to have changed as everybody is now making light-hearted village love stories similar to the sleeper-hit Kalavani.
Says Parthepan, ���������For a long time, people have been trying to use the hit formula of a small film that���������s turned successful. I think directors will have to think out of the box and do something different and at the same time audiences should like it.���������
Advises director Mysskin, ���������Young filmmakers should not go after trends or make films for the fans. Make movies from your heart and you will succeed.���������
The next two Fridays (September 3 and 10) will see more than a dozen films releasing like Sindhu Samaveli, Bale Pandiya, Puzhal, Irandu Mugham, Kaloori Kalangal, Valibhame Vaa, Drohi, Boss Engira Baskaran, Vandae Maatharam, Va, Rahasiyam and Ayyanar. The trade feels that there is a mad rush to release new films before Endhiran releases.
Concludes producer G Dhananjayan, ���������People are in a great hurry to release films in Tamil cinema as if there is no tomorrow. If a film has taken a year to make, why can���������t a producer wait for at least a month or two and release it during a week when there are few new releases? While one can understand the pressures of interest, there is no meaning in releasing a film along with five other films. This will not fetch revenues and also end the film���������s life within a week.���������