Kollywood has witnessed a lean phase in recent months. Only medium budget films have hit theatres, while major star driven releases remain absent. Theatre owners say the gap is affecting overall collections.
Apart from Sivakarthikeyan’s Parasakthi, no other big budget film has arrived in the last three months. This has created a noticeable slowdown in footfalls. Exhibitors are urging producers to plan release calendars more carefully.
Trade experts point out that medium budget films such as Sirai, Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimayil, With Love and Thaai Kizhavi have performed well. However, their overall collections cannot match the impact of a big star film. A single biggie often earns nearly double the revenue.
Vijay’s Jana Nayagan was initially scheduled for release on January 9. The film was later postponed due to delays in obtaining its censorship certificate. Since then, there has been no official update on a new release date.
Similarly, Suriya’s Karuppu directed by RJ Balaji and starring Trisha as the female lead is ready for release. The industry is eagerly waiting for confirmed dates for both films. Their arrival is expected to boost theatre business.
Apart from Dhanush’s Kara, there is little clarity about other major summer releases. Several medium budget films in post production are also waiting. They are keen to avoid a clash with big titles.
The coming weeks will be crucial for Kollywood. Much depends on when Jana Nayagan and Karuppu finally hit screens. Theatre owners hope better scheduling will bring stability to the box office.
