Producer to screen movie ticketless, cost to be covered by ads

Imagine watching the latest movie in cinemas without spending a single penny or making a mad rush for tickets.

Just wait a while before disbelieving such a scenario as a new Malayalam film is all set to be released with the promise that it can be watched free of cost at movie houses, at least in the initial week.

Claiming to introduce the concept of “sponsored film” in Indian cinema, “Test Paper”, directed by S Vinod Kumar, will be screened free of cost for the public in select theatres across Kerala.

Those interested in watching the movie could collect free passes from the theatres where it is being screened or from the producer’s office, they said.

S Manoj Kumar, its producer, said the expense of the days of free screening will be collected through advertisements.

“We have sponsored tele series and other television programmes. But ‘Test Paper’ is going to be the first sponsored movie in Indian cinema. We are planning to cover the cost of free screening through sponsored advertisements,” he told PTI.

He said they planned to release the movie across the state and the first free screening would be in the capital city Thiruvananthapuram.

“We are mainly eyeing local advertisements than big brands. As it is an innovative concept, people are showing great interest to invest in advertisements,” he said.

Unlike in TV serials, in which advertisements are put out in the middle of the episodes, ads in the movie would be shown before its beginning and during the interval, Kumar,who is in the advertisement field in the last 25 years, said.

The film, having a star cast including prominent actors including Jagadeesh, Nandu, Munna and Mahalakshmi, is scheduled to be released on June 13. The free screening is planned till June 19.

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