Tamil film industry demands 60 percent slash in star fees

Calcutta News.Net
Saturday 22nd November, 2008 (IANS)

Following the poor show of blockbusters, Tamil film producers have asked stars to slash their rates by at least 60 percent, warning that they would have to otherwise think twice before launching new projects, officials in the Tamil film industry said.

'If actors do not slash their prices by at least 60 percent, producers will have to think twice before proceeding with future projects,' Tamil Film Producers' Council (TFPC) president Ramanarayanan was quoted as saying Saturday during the body's executive committee meeting, according to top industry sources.

The move comes within 10 days of entertainment major Pyramid Saimira saying it had deferred the production of Kamal Haasan starrer 'Marmayogi' due to 'liquidity constraints in the film industry'.

Mani Ratnam may also have to slash the budget of his ongoing bilingual project by at least 40 percent.

Tamil film industry has already been crippled by recent flops like 'Kuselan' and 'Aegan' starring Rajnikant and Ajith Kumar respectively.

Distributors and exhibitors have blocked the releases of Arjun-starrer 'Thiruvannamalai' of Saimira and 'Naan Kadavul' of Kavithalaya - both involved in the production of 'Kuselan' following delays in 'compensation packages' for the losses from the Rajnikant film.

Further, a newly formed, yet-to-be-named cartel of these vital cogs of the film industry have communicated to producers that they will no longer buy movies on a minimum guarantee (MG) basis, sources in the TFPC said on condition of anonymity.

Though the South Indian Artistes' Association refrained from comment over the development, two top stars have informed their producers that they would rather sit idle than slash their prices.

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