A few days back there was news that Joshy's multi-starrer Christian Brothers with Mohanlal, Dileep and Sarath Kumar has been sold for Rs 3 crore to a leading Malayalam channel.
When we contacted producer Subair, he denied it vehemently. Says Subair: "A section of the media had reported that we sold Christian Brothers for Rs 3 crore to a leading television channel, it is totally false. The channels are refusing to pay that kind of money any longer, so we have decided to hold back the rights till the film is released."
All television channels in Kerala have come together and buried their differences and formed an association. As far as movie acquisition is concerned, they have drawn out a strict policy. Henceforth the maximum amount they will pay for a Mammootty or Mohanlal film is Rs 1.75 crore, and they will not go for a bidding war among themselves.
The market leaders Asianet and Suriya, with deep pockets have been raising the price of Malayalam satellite rights over the months, as they were involved in a fierce bidding war and a mad rush to buy new titles. Now they themselves have formed a cartel to beat the producers and the stars at their own game.
It has come as a major blow to Mammootty and Mohanlal, as their films satellite rights used to fetch nearly 50 to 55 percent of the films market value. Now the channels have truly clipped the wings of M and M, leading to a situation where producers have deserted them. Earlier a producer could start an M and M film if he had their dates, depending on a 40 to 50 percent advance from the channels as television rights.
Take for instance Mohanlal's forthcoming releases- Shikar, Kandahar, Casanova, all of them are going to be distributed by the star's own distribution arm Max Lab. In the case of Mammootty too all his immediate releases like Pranchiyettan and the Saint, Best Actor, King and Commissioner are going to reach the theatre through his distribution and production company Play House. Earlier the stars salary ranging between Rs 1 crore to Rs 1.25 Crore depended a lot on the satellite rights.
A spokesperson of a leading television channel said: "Why should we go on feeding M and M, when their films satellite rights at the price we brought earlier were not commercially viable? We have decided among ourselves that we will have a maximum price for their films beyond which we will not negotiate. We also save a lot of interest if we buy after release, and also the real value of the product is known after release."
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