The Film Exhibitors United Organisation of Kerala [FEUOK] decided not to cooperate with Magic Frames, Listen Stephen’s production company, which, along with Prithviraj Productions distributed the Tamil film Bigil in the state. The exhibitor body has taken this decision as the distributors have gone against the understanding between Kerala Film Producers Association, Film Distributors Association (Kerala) and FEUOK, when they met on January 18 this year.
The distributors have allegedly crossed the number of screens that the film bodies had in January agreed upon. They have a screen limit of 125 screens for other language movie releases, which they have deviated by releasing Bigil across 300+ screens in the state.
The Malayalam distribution rights of Vijay's Bigil, directed by Atlee, was acquired by Prithviraj Productions in association with Listin Stephen’s Magic Frames. The film which hit the screens for this Diwali has been declared as a blockbuster hit and significantly it got a smashing opening in Kerala too.
Made on a budget of Rs 180 crore, produced by Kalpathi S Aghoram, Kalpathi S Ganesh and Kalpathi S Suresh under the banner AGS Entertainment, Bigil has Nayanthara playing the female lead. The film is a sports drama which features sixteen women as sports players along with Jackie Shroff, Kathir, Daniel Balaji, Sai Dheena, Anandraj, Kathir, Yogi Babu and Vivek in pivotal roles.
Vijay enjoys a considerable fan base in Kerala. There are fan associations that make every release of their Thalapathy a grand celebration. Reports are that the film has grossed around Rs 4.80 crore in Kerala, which is the second-highest opening day collection figure in the state this year. With the movie performing exponentially well, the distributors Magic Frames has got into trouble as they had violated the base norms in the Kerala distribution sector.
Previously Prithviraj and Listin have distributed Rajinikanth’s Petta in Kerala. The duo is also producing Lal Jr’s Driving Licence and Shaji Kailas’s upcoming mass action thriller Kaduva.
(Content provided by Digital Native)