Chennai: If one went by the numbers, this weekend would seem the busiest in the year for film-goers who would have to choose from 14 new films that will hit screens this Friday. In reality, however, the year's last weekend will be a dull one for film fans with no big star-films lined up. More than a dozen small budget flicks and those starring new comers will be released this Friday, the last for the year, in order to make them eligible for the government's subsidy for small films for 2011.
Films in the race this week are Ammaana Summa Illai, Padhinettaan Kudi, Paavi, Karuthakannan Rekla Race, Vinaayaga, Vazhividu Kanne Vazhividu, Maharaja, Mahaan Kanakku, Abaayam, Vettaiyaadu, Madhuvum Mythiliyum, Vettai Naayakan (dubbed version of Telugu flick Golimaar), Puyal Veeran (Tamil version of Storm Warriors) and Speed- 2 (in Tamil).
"All these films have new or upcoming heroes, and have been made on a considerably small budget of less than Rs 2 crores. They seem to be aiming at the state government's annual subsidy for small films," pointed a popular theatre owner, on condition of anonymity.
The state government offers a subsidy of Rs 7 lakh for select, small budget, quality films, which have Tamil titles. For the year 2005, 34 films were chosen for the subsidy, while for 2006, 36 films were chosen. However, no announcement regarding the films eligible for subsidy for 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 has been made.
And yet, several small-time producers have rushed in their films for this weekend, observed the theatre owner.
A star campaigner for the AIADMK, Polur Jayagovindhan, whose film 'Ammanna Summa Illada' is releasing this Friday, denied that his film was releasing this week only to be eligible for the subsidy. "My film has been in the cans for the last five years, and distributors during the DMK regime wanted me to change the film's title as they saw a reference to Amma in it. My production house is also called Amma Kalaikoodam. I found people willing to release it only now, and thought This would be an ideal week as no big films will hit the screens till Pongal," he said.
If films eyeing the government subsidy are waiting for screen availability, those filmmakers aiming for awa-rds are keen on their films being certified this year. In order to appear in most national and international film festivals for this year, it is a prerequisite that the film is certified by the Central Board of Film Certification in 2011. The CBFC has received 33 applications for certification this month alone. On an average, 15 films are certified every month by the certifying body.
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