Rajinikanth’s ‘Lingaa’ Losses Still Haunt Upcoming Tamil Releases

Film distributors and theatre owners in Tamil Nadu are still pressing Lingaa producers to compensate them for losses.

South superstar Rajinikanth in a scene from Lingaa

The staggering losses incurred by Rajinikanth’s last outing Lingaa are still haunting the film releases in Tamil Nadu. Distributors and theatre owners, who staged an indefinite hunger strike a few months back, calling for producers to compensate them for their losses, are at it again.

Now, the Tamil Nadu Theatres Owners Association has issued a ‘Red Card’ (a term used by the distributors’ clan to boycott films) to the upcoming Vishal-starrer Paayum Puli, which has been produced by Vendhar Movies, that also distributed Lingaa all over Tamil Nadu. Paayum Puli is slated for a worldwide release on September 4th.

Superstar Rajinikanth in a scene from Lingaa

“Though Rajinikanth and Rockline Venkatesh, the producers of Lingaa, have managed to appease a section of distributors across the state by settling the losses incurred by them, a few of them are yet to receive any compensation. The distributors in NSC (North Arcot, South Arcot and Chengelpet), Trichy and Tirunelveli territories have not received any compensation from the makers of Lingaa yet,” said a trade pundit who has been actively following these developments.

Producer Siva has openly accused R Panneerselvam, general secretary of Tamil Nadu Film Exhibitors’ Association, for threatening Madhan, the owner of Vendhar Movies. “Panneerselvam made a phone call and threatened us saying that theatre owners will not release Paayum Puli unless the compensation is provided to all,” said Siva.

Rajinikanth with Suchithra Shivaram in a scene from Lingaa

As the increasingly rancorous negotiations between distributors and exhibitors are still dragging on, Tamil Film Producers’ Council (TFPC) has come to the rescue of Vendhar Movies. “If the exhibitors association doesn’t withdraw the red card immediately, the matter will be brought into the notice of Tamil Nadu state government to resolve the issue in a democratic way,” reads a statement from TFPC.