One of the most significant trends of 2018?
The growth of Tamil films in the domestic market (excluding Tamil Nadu). Today, major Kannada and Malayalam producers have turned distributors for Tamil films in their home State.
A point to be noted is that the Hindi dubbed version of Rajinikanth’s 2.0 grossed more than the Tamil version — a feat that hasn’t happened before! The Southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala are becoming a bigger market for certain Tamil stars. They find it more lucrative than making films in their own languages.
A few years back, 90% of the revenue for a big film came from Tamil Nadu. But today, the other states’ revenue for a Rajinikanth or a Vijay film is as high as 40% of the total sale of theatrical and other rights.
The winds of change:
What kind of content will Tamil cinema offer in 2019? Yes, more films will be catering to multiplex audiences since women-centric films scored big last year. Rural-based stories have lost their charm outside the State.
Still, you may find a lot of caste-based themes in 2019. The rural entertainers laced with a strong message like Kadaikutty Singam will draw audiences in the B and C centers.
Now, the big question is:
the case with smaller films featuring lesser-known actors? Producing a Tamil film is no longer easy. Finance has dried up, and television channels have stopped buying small films (Jyotika’s Kaatrin Mozhi satellite rights are yet to be sold). In addition, the Tamil Film Producers’ Council has disbanded its release regulation committee, and it’s free for all.
Leading producer G Dhananjayan said.
“In 2018, 95 small-budget films
The less than ₹3 crore budget) were released, out of which only Merku Thodarchi Malai worked critically and commercially. Most of the other films did not recover even the publicity expenses.
Among films made in the ₹3-5 crore category, only five films, such as Iruttu Araiyil Murattu Kuthu, Pyaar Prema Kaadhal, Pariyerum Perumal, U-Turn, and Thuppakki Munai, worked commercially. It clearly indicates that small films have minimal opportunities to succeed and the future looks bleak.” currently the hot topic
in Kollywood is the clash.
According to the trade, the release dates for the next three months?
Between Petta and Viswasam, these Pongal are influential producers and distributors. They are going through a metamorphosis. Unlike previous years, the multiplexes will now call the shots. Producers are now migrating to OTT platforms, which are slowly gaining momentum. 2019, in many ways, is going to be a landmark year as the production and business of Tamil films.
Nevertheless, the show must go on.
Transcending boundaries:
The overseas market is expanding to newer horizons. In the US, 2.0’s theatrical revenue matched some of the big Bollywood films.
Tamil films are now releasing in places like Poland, Russia, and Ukraine. Some so many new players who are willing to pay extra bucks for the big hero films. In a year, the market value of a star’s film has almost doubled in the overseas sector. However, Tamil films are yet to crack the Chinese market.
Will 2.0 manage to rake in the moolah in China when it was released in May 2019? China is set to become the world’s biggest film market by 2021, overtaking the US, though it has its restrictions (only 34 foreign films a year).
Secret Superstar, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, and Hindi Medium did extraordinary business there.
It witnessed a decline after recent failures like Padman and Thugs of Hindostan. The buzz is that 2.0 is likely to do decent business, considering how Transformers: The Last Knight did extraordinary numbers in China.
Does China remain the last frontier?
Tamil films, with Mersal yet to be released. The South Indian films with larger-than-life characters (the Baahubali series also received a lukewarm response) are yet to be accepted among the Chinese masses.
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