Producers threaten multiplexes with `No show`

Mumbai, Feb 20: Film producers have threatened to stop releases in multiplexes from April 1 as the ongoing revenue sharing talks between them and multiplex owners have not yielded any result so far.Mukesh Bhatt, chairman of the core group of Film and Television Producers Guild of India (FTPGI) told reporters that film producers were asking for 50 per cent of the ticket sales earned by multiplexes.

"It is our legitimate right. Multiplexes earn 25 percent from food and beverages, 15 percent from car parking and eight percent from advertising. This itself accounts for 48 percent of the revenue while the balance comes from ticket sales," Bhatt said. Another round of meetings will take place next week and if a fair settlement is not reached, producers will carry out their threat of not releasing films in multiplexes for an indefinite period, he said. At present, producers get a share of only 35 percent by releasing their films in multiplexes, he added. Vashu Bhagnani, whose film `Kal Kisne Dekha Hai` will hit the screens on April 24, said multiplex owners demand an increased percentage of profits in films despite increase in production costs and the effect of the global recession on the entertainment industry.Bhagnani said producers would not release their films in multiplexes till a fair settlement is reached. Cinemax spokesperson Girish Wankhede said the controversy over revenue sharing was nothing new. "Any extreme step is harmful for exhibitors as well as producers. Hence, an amicable settlement is necessary," he said. "An exhibitor has to part with share of ticket sales with the distributor on a weekly basis. There is a fixed ratio. A proportion of the ticket sales also goes toward entertainment tax," he said. Shravan Shroff, owner of Fame Cinemas declined to comment on the issue saying that it was an internal matter between two groups of the film industry. Bureau Report