Have not cheated distributors: Lingaa producer

Producer Rockline Venkatesh said he didn’t swindle profits by cheating the distributors of Rajinikanth-starrer “Lingaa”. He said if proven guilty of cheating, he is ready to give in to the demands of the distributors, who staged a fast on Saturday seeking compensation for the heavy losses incurred in the film. “If I’m proven guilty of cheating the distributors, I’m ready to accept their demands. I have not swindled profits by cheating any of them,” Venkatesh told media.

On Thursday, distributor Singaravadivelan, who bought the Trichy and Thanjavur area rights of “Lingaa”, moved to Madras High Court seeking permission to fast along with four other distributors. Venkatesh called the fast a “publicity stunt” aimed at “tarnishing the image of Rajinikanth”. “Some distributors said the film was released during the wrong time of the year. But we had announced the release date on the first day of the shooting. If they had any problems with the release date, they should’ve requested us to change it in the first place,” he said.

On allegations that the film opened to empty houses on release day in some centres, Venkatesh said, “How many of you believe that the first day shows of a Rajinikanth film will ever be empty. They have ruined the prospects of the film with these baseless statements”. Venkatesh sincerely requested the distributors to stop everything they’re doing.The distributors, who observed a day-long fast, said they’re only doing so to draw the “attention of Rajinikanth”.