It’s been over a month, there has been no new Tamil releases in the state due the stand-off between Tamil Film Producers Council and the Digital Service Providers over Virtual Print Fee (VPF). On March 16, the TFPC had announced a complete shutdown of production work, film events and movie releases. In order to cover their liabilities, theatre owners are forced to screen old movies. Now, Udhayam Theatre complex with four screens has decided to screen the IPL 2018 matches live starting Saturday.
The manager of Udhayam cine complex told Silverscreen, “As there are no new Tamil releases, we are running into losses that’s why we decided to screen IPL matches. We have sought the permission from the authorities concerned.”
When asked whether they will screen only Chennai Super King matches, he said “No, we are screening the complete season of IPL 2018.”
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The pricing of tickets for the matches have yet to be decided and he also added that he is not aware of any other theatre planning to go the similar way.
“Anyway all the A class theatres have to screen new releases of films and maybe other theatres would follow what we are doing,” he said.
Silverscreen contacted a few other single-screen theatres in Chennai but they have no plans yet to screen IPL matches. The 11th edition of Indian Premier League will start on this Saturday with a match between Chennai Super Kings against Mumbai Indians.
Meanwhile, in solidarity with the TFPC, the Telugu film producers council will not be screening any Telugu films in Tamil Nadu from Sunday onwards. It includes Samantha Akkineni and Ram Charan starrer Rangasthalam which has been performing well at the box office.