Vijay’s Theri did not release in theatres across Chengalpet due to a dispute between distributors SPI Cinemas and the Chengalpet Theater Exhibitors Association. Following this, the Producers Council announced on Thursday evening that Rajinikanth’s Kabali, Suriya’s 24, and Singam 3 would not be released in theatres where Theri wasn’t screened.
Important single screen theatres in the Chengalpet area, such as Kasi, Vettri, Rakki, Ganga, Vidya, Kumaran, Vettrivel, Jothi, Janatha, Prarthana, Varadharaja, and Rohini, did not release Theri. Only multiplexes like S2 Theyagaraja, Mayajaal, AGS OMR, and AGS Villivakkam screened the film. These theatres are considered as key collection centres where fans throng to watch the film.
While there has been no official confirmation, it is believed that the issue arose due to the demand for a high ‘Minimum Guarantee’, and monitoring of high ticket rates for first day shows of the film. Most single screen theatres are notorious for hiking ticket prices to Rs.200 or Rs.250 for first day shows, despite the government’s capping of movie ticket prices at Rs.120.
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The last minute decision to not screen Theri at these theatres left thousands of Vijay fans disappointed, as they were unable to watch the film on its first day. The president of the Producers Council, S Thanu, who is also the producer of Theri and Kabali, said that they (the Council) had no personal issues with the theatre owners, but the body governing them has consistently created problems for the Council. Therefore, he and producer K Gnanavel Raja had decided to not release films in those theatres, until a solution could be amicably found.
Meanwhile, a Polimer TV cameraperson allegedly shot 38 minutes of footage from Theri at a theatre in Coimbatore. Apparently, a few fans at the theatre reported the incident and police arrested the cameraman. At yesterday’s press meet, members of the Producers Council expelled a Polimer TV reporter from the venue, and said that following due investigation, necessary legal action would be taken against the culprits.