With Tamil Nadu film exhibitors deciding not to screen Kamal Haasan’s multi- lingual film Vishwaroopam , the chances of the film’s theatrical release seem bleak now.

At a meeting in Tiruchi today, theatre owners’ associations of “almost all the districts in Tamil Nadu and distributors’ associations unanimously decided to not screen the film”.

If Kamal Haasan sticks to his plan of hitting homes first via the direct-to-home platform, theatre owners will not screen the film, say industry representatives. “It does not mean that we are against Kamal Haasan or the DTH technology. But we are against releasing the film on the DTH platform ahead of the movie’s theatrical release,” explained Abirami Ramanathan, President of Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners Federation.

According to him, even theatre owners in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Mumbai have decided not to screen the film. However, going by the advertisements in various newspapers today, the movie’s global release is set for January 11.

Ace actor and film-maker Kamal Haasan had decided to premiere the Rs 95-crore mega film on the DTH platform — for the first time in the world, according to the actor. Theatre owners in Tamil Nadu and Mumbai protested the decision saying it will set a precedent for other film makers and producers that can wipe out the business of cinema halls.

A film industry veteran, who requested anonymity, told Business Line that even if theatre owners agree, screens across the State are not available on that date.

“There is absolutely no theatre available for the January 11 release of Vishwaroopam , as all have signed up for two other Tamil films — Alex Pandian and Kanna, Laddu Thinna Aasaiya? — and a Telugu film, due for release around same time.”

However, Ramanathan said the association members are open for dialogue with Kamal Haasan, provided he agrees not to premiere the film on DTH.

>ravikumar.ramanujam@thehindu.co.in

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