7:49 AM
Karthikh Venkat
In the first three quarters of 2010, there have been only three super hits — Singam, Paiyaa and Boss Engira Baskaran — and no blockbuster (based on the BO collection and the cost of production).
However the last quarter of 2010 has started with a bang for Kollywood.
Superstar Rajinikanth’s Endhiran has taken a grand opening worldwide on October 1 and has been creating large waves in the Box Office. According to the latest Box Office report, this movie has managed to collect Rs. 120 crores in seven days from its release.
At the same time, there is no sign of Rajini mania calm down and the good news is that it is still going strong in both India and abroad. Looking forward for the better prospect,most of the theatres in the state have increased the number shows in the second week.
It looks like Kollywood producers are going to give a clean three weeks free run to the Rajinikanth biggie as nobody wants to get hit and run over by the Endhiran force till Deepavali.
Says exhibitor and producer Abirami Ramanathan, “Endhiran opening big is good news for the industry. It’s a boost for Tamil cinema.”
With virtually no movie getting released for the past two Fridays because of the Endhiran mania, audiences can look for some more variety in the coming months.
Films due for Deepavali damaka
As of now, six films are due for the festival of lights on November 5 – Surya’s Ratha Sarithiram, Dhanush’s Uthamaputhiran, Arya’s Chikku Bukku, Arjun’s Vallakottai, and two small films Va — Quarter Cutting, marketed by Dhyanidhi Alagiri and Mynaa, marketed by Udhayanidhi Stalin.
Actor Surya’s upcoming trilingual film “Ratha Sarithiram”, which is simultaneously being produced in Telugu and Hindi under the title “Raktha Charitra”, was the culmination of efforts by noted Bollywood film-maker Ram Gopal Varma. The film’s Hindi version would incidentally mark his debut in Bollywood of the talented Surya.
Dhanush-Genelia starred Uthamaputhiran, the remake of the Telugu blockbuster ‘Ready’, directed by Mithran is touted to be made in a mammoth budget, possibly Dhanush’s biggest till date.
Following his back-to-back hits in ‘Madarasapattinam’ and ‘Bass Engira Baskaran’, actor Arya appears to be aiming to score a hat-trick with his upcoming film ‘Chikku Bukku’ opposite Shriya Saran. The innovative trailer launched recently in style has already created enough buzz in Kollywood.
Arjun’s forthcoming action flick ‘Vallakottai’ is said to be a good commercial film with stunts, romance and emotions in agreeable proportions.
The duo Pushkar-Gayatri, who gave the movie Oram Po (Auto), starring Arya and Pooja, is now back with Va Quarter Cutting. Va Quarter Cutting stars RJ turned hero Shiva (of Tamil Padam, Saroja, Chennai 28 fame), SPB Charan and Lekha Washington (after her sister act in Jeyam Kondan against actor Vinay) in the lead roles.
Director Prabhusolomon, who last directed ‘ Laadam ‘, is back from a hiatus with the movie ‘Mynaa’, which has Vidharth and Anakha in the main roles. A action & romantic tale with twists and turns is what ‘MYNAA’ is all about. The songs of the movie have already been receiving very well.
Says a leading trade analyst, “It is difficult for all the six films to release on Deepavali; at least three of them will have to postpone their date of release. Also, a major factor that has to be taken into consideration is how big Endhiran turns out to be at the box-office, especially in tier-two and tier-three towns in Tamil Nadu where there are limited screens. Exhibitors will surely screen the Rajinikanth film for 50 days in tier-one theatres.”
At the same time, there is tremendous pressure on the exhibitors to release as many films as possible before the end of the year. Every top hero has a film to be released in the next 88 days, as none of them want to push their films to 2011 for strategic reasons.
Manmadhan Ambu On December 10
As of now, the trade has confirmed that the the next big film of the year, Kamal Haasan-Madhavan-Trisha romantic comedy crape Manmadhan Ambu will release on December 10.
Vijay’s Kaavalan due for Christmas
Ilaiyathalapathy Vijay is keen that his romantic comedy entertainer Kaavalan with Asin be ready for a Christmas release on December 24.
Other Releases
The other films slotted for a November-December release are Jayam Ravi’s Engeyum Kaathal, Karthi’s Siruthai, Simbu’s Vaanam, Jiiva’s Ko, Cheran’s Yutham Sei and two dozen other films! The last quarter of 2010 is choc-a-bloc with too many star-studded biggies and low-budget films.
With so many movies lining up, it will be interesting to see who emerges victorious.
