Big Trouble For Small Movies

Producers of low budget movies are up in arms against theatres and multiplexes in the city as most of them are unwilling to screen ‘small’ films. According to the producers, this was because the big theatres earn more revenue from selling popcorns and snacks to audiences and small movies won’t pull in too many people. “Multiplexes get more money from eatery stalls than ticket sales,” says Mr T. Venkatanarayana, director of “Cell’ which was made within a budget of Rs 50 lakh. “So they want the theatre to be full which is why they are not ready to rent it out for small budget movies.” Mr Venkatanarayana adds that Adlabs Theatre in the city was not willing to show his movie after the first week because of this. “Though my film was critically appreciated, it is a commercial loss for me,” he says.

Several leading theatres in the city have become marriage halls and shopping malls and this too has reduced avenues for small films. Even if they get a theatre to screen their movie, the rents are abnormally high. In the city, most theatres are charging about 1 lakh as a rent for one week in the city. “Theatres don’t mind screening even old films of big stars for months but are reluctant to screen small movies which are new,” says Mr R. Narayana Murthy, actor and producer. The small movie producers now want the multiplexes to dedicate one of their screens for screening their movie.