We have to embrace technology and
sail with that’
Kamal Haasan
Business Line caught up the man in the centre of the controversy
over screening of his movie on the direct-to-home platform before it is
released in theatres. Visiting the Prasad Studios for another
appointment, this writer was pleasantly surprised to find the actor
there, who acquiesced to an interview on the brouhaha. In an hour-long
free-wheeling interview actor and film-maker Kamal Haasan spoke at
length on the issue and why his move will be win-win for all in the
industry.
Your decision to release Viswaroopam on the DTH platform has drawn flak from different quarters of the film fraternity ……
DTH is another ethical avenue that offers a platform to monetise. If anybody says no, he will be the loser. It’s a technological growth, and we can’t resist it beyond a point. Now, we are fighting a war against technology, only to realise that the latter wins. Always. We can’t win this war. If I don’t do it today, some day, someone will do it. Why should I wait till that someone comes and does it. Twenty years ago, I said the same thing about satellite TV. Now, it’s a reality.
So, are you going to go ahead?
Yes. I am not going to be nailed on this cross. The protest has only made me stand firmer on my ground. We are going ahead, booking theatres. And, they have seen me doing that before. I am releasing it on DTH on January 10, and it will hit theatre screens from the next day. It is also going to premiere in Los Angeles on January 10, for which I am going there.
I don’t understand the dichotomy among the film fraternity. DTH is only a parallel medium, and a transparent system. It is in no way going to impact theatrical revenues.
But then why are distributors protesting?
They do not understand that. Now, theatre owners in North too have joined them, saying if I release my movie on the DTH platform, they will not support me. It’s a nexus, and unfair. I am not going to release the Hindi and Telugu versions on DTH. It’s my film, and I am going to release it myself. I have not demanded minimum guarantee from anybody, though I am sure the film would make much more than that.
Do you think you can coax them?
Of course, yes. As it is, they have softened their stand. All producers are by my side. Distributors support me. Even theatre owners in all other cities are with me. The theatre owners association in Coimbatore has already passed a resolution to back me. Other centres such as Tiruchi are also by my side.
In fact, over 15 cinema halls are getting new sound systems installed specially to screen this film. The protest is only from the Chennai city and neighbouring districts. I think all it calls for is persuasion. I have to talk to them, and make them understand that it will only help bringing in more people to the theatre. Moreover, my intention is not to violently force it upon them. I only want to convince them.
They fear two things. One, they say it may give a fillip to piracy and secondly, if all other producers follow your footsteps, the traditional exhibition medium will become redundant.
As I already told you, DTH is a transparent system. The DTH connections at clubs, bars and hotels will not be in the loop. Besides, piracy is impossible. If any one shoots with the hand-held camera and prints and sells, we can identify them with ease. It’s technically possible. I do not want to go into much detail, as somebody can come out with a smarter technology to do it. I told you, technology will be the winner... (he laughs).
For your second point, I am sitting on Rs 95 crore (cost of the film) and doing business. You tell me, how many people can do it. Every one would want to make quick money and go. Besides, how many can command Rs 1,000 just to watch once. I do not think many can take this route. Even if some do, going to a theatre is in our tradition. It will not die down. It has not happened in the US yet.
Have you signed up with all the six DTH players?
No. So far, we have signed up with Airtel, Dish, Videocon and Reliance. They came as a consortium.
How many DTH homes do you expect to watch the movie at this price point?
The DTH players we have tied up with so far, collectively reach around 15 lakh homes. I expect at least 40-50 per cent would watch.
Have you already sold the satellite rights of the film?
Yes, to Jaya TV.
How much do you think Viswaroopam would gross?
I do not want to predict. But I can safely say the movie would gross at least Rs 150 crore.
How many screens are you planning?
Globally 2,000 screens. Of this, 400 in Tamil Nadu, 1,200 in other parts of the country.
Would you be able to rope in so many with this kind of protest?
In politics and business, there is no permanent enemy. The same people who are on my side now were on the other side of the fence when I said we cannot fight satellite channels 20 years ago. This is the way going forward, and we have to embrace technology and sail with that.
நன்றி - கமல்
நன்றி - பிஸ்னெஸ்லைன்
[email protected]
Your decision to release Viswaroopam on the DTH platform has drawn flak from different quarters of the film fraternity ……
DTH is another ethical avenue that offers a platform to monetise. If anybody says no, he will be the loser. It’s a technological growth, and we can’t resist it beyond a point. Now, we are fighting a war against technology, only to realise that the latter wins. Always. We can’t win this war. If I don’t do it today, some day, someone will do it. Why should I wait till that someone comes and does it. Twenty years ago, I said the same thing about satellite TV. Now, it’s a reality.
So, are you going to go ahead?
Yes. I am not going to be nailed on this cross. The protest has only made me stand firmer on my ground. We are going ahead, booking theatres. And, they have seen me doing that before. I am releasing it on DTH on January 10, and it will hit theatre screens from the next day. It is also going to premiere in Los Angeles on January 10, for which I am going there.
I don’t understand the dichotomy among the film fraternity. DTH is only a parallel medium, and a transparent system. It is in no way going to impact theatrical revenues.
But then why are distributors protesting?
They do not understand that. Now, theatre owners in North too have joined them, saying if I release my movie on the DTH platform, they will not support me. It’s a nexus, and unfair. I am not going to release the Hindi and Telugu versions on DTH. It’s my film, and I am going to release it myself. I have not demanded minimum guarantee from anybody, though I am sure the film would make much more than that.
Do you think you can coax them?
Of course, yes. As it is, they have softened their stand. All producers are by my side. Distributors support me. Even theatre owners in all other cities are with me. The theatre owners association in Coimbatore has already passed a resolution to back me. Other centres such as Tiruchi are also by my side.
In fact, over 15 cinema halls are getting new sound systems installed specially to screen this film. The protest is only from the Chennai city and neighbouring districts. I think all it calls for is persuasion. I have to talk to them, and make them understand that it will only help bringing in more people to the theatre. Moreover, my intention is not to violently force it upon them. I only want to convince them.
They fear two things. One, they say it may give a fillip to piracy and secondly, if all other producers follow your footsteps, the traditional exhibition medium will become redundant.
As I already told you, DTH is a transparent system. The DTH connections at clubs, bars and hotels will not be in the loop. Besides, piracy is impossible. If any one shoots with the hand-held camera and prints and sells, we can identify them with ease. It’s technically possible. I do not want to go into much detail, as somebody can come out with a smarter technology to do it. I told you, technology will be the winner... (he laughs).
For your second point, I am sitting on Rs 95 crore (cost of the film) and doing business. You tell me, how many people can do it. Every one would want to make quick money and go. Besides, how many can command Rs 1,000 just to watch once. I do not think many can take this route. Even if some do, going to a theatre is in our tradition. It will not die down. It has not happened in the US yet.
Have you signed up with all the six DTH players?
No. So far, we have signed up with Airtel, Dish, Videocon and Reliance. They came as a consortium.
How many DTH homes do you expect to watch the movie at this price point?
The DTH players we have tied up with so far, collectively reach around 15 lakh homes. I expect at least 40-50 per cent would watch.
Have you already sold the satellite rights of the film?
Yes, to Jaya TV.
How much do you think Viswaroopam would gross?
I do not want to predict. But I can safely say the movie would gross at least Rs 150 crore.
How many screens are you planning?
Globally 2,000 screens. Of this, 400 in Tamil Nadu, 1,200 in other parts of the country.
Would you be able to rope in so many with this kind of protest?
In politics and business, there is no permanent enemy. The same people who are on my side now were on the other side of the fence when I said we cannot fight satellite channels 20 years ago. This is the way going forward, and we have to embrace technology and sail with that.
நன்றி - கமல்
As actor and film-maker Kamal Haasan stands his ground that his new film
Viswaroopam will be premiered on the direct-to-home platform despite
protest from various stakeholders, the Tamil Nadu Film Distributors
Federation is all set to meet on Tuesday to take a call on this issue.
Already, the Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners Federation has protested saying
that this initiative will certainly affect theatre revenues at a time
when “the film exhibition business has already been going through a
rough patch owing to a range of other issues”.
Earlier, the actor had defended his move to screen the movie on DTH
networks on fixed-time show basis on the day before the film’s
theatrical release, which is tentatively scheduled for January 11. The
price per connection has also been fixed at Rs 1,000. He has said this
move would be a new, legitimate revenue stream for the industry. His
argument is that this would not affect the theatrical revenues as it is
“targeted at a niche segment that wants to be entertained in the comfort
of their homes”.
According to a industry veteran who does not want to be identified,
“This move could even prove to be a trigger for the success of the
movie, as it would only kindle interest among his fans to get the
giant-screen experience.”
However, Abirami Ramanathan, President of the Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners
Federation, asks why he should even try something which has not been
experimented by Hollywood. “As theatre owners, we may not suffer any
major losses because of this one film. But, if others too choose to
follow this model, the entire exhibition business may have to suffer a
huge setback,” he told Business Line.
Though Kamal Haasan says the move would be a blow to the piracy market,
which is wrecking the industry, Ramanathan says this would only pave the
way for more piracy. “If someone films the entire movie with an
hand-held HD camera when the film is being played on an HD TV, the
result will be pretty good; then how can that prevent piracy?” he asks.
According to industry sources, Kamal Haasan has signed up with five DTH
players, who can collectively address at least 15 lakh homes in the
State. And, there are instances, when some hit movies were exhibited on
big screens (with the help of projectors) for a large audience of over
100, in public places such as clubs and playgrounds.
Harit Nagpal, Managing Director and CEO, Tata Sky, one of the DTH
players signed on to premiere Viswaroopam (which cost over Rs 120 crore
to make), says the technology offers only another opportunity to earn
revenues from a new market. He told Business Line that it will, in fact,
bring in a newer market to Tamil films as TV homes who are willing to
pay up Rs 1,000 are not the kind who will queue up in cinema halls for
tickets.
நன்றி - பிஸ்னெஸ்லைன்
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