A HEAVY LOSS TO MALAYALAM FILM PRODUCERS

BY N.THYAGARAJAN

The unexpected, unusual and non-seasonal incessant rains in various parts of the Tamil Nadu and Kerala have created a loss of Rs.10 crore to producers of Malayalam and Tamil films.

The rain which started down pouring for the last four to five days has destroyed the costliest sets that were made for the Malayalam films. Similarly, some cine theaters in Alleppey, Ernakulam, Calicut cancelled the night shows.

In Cannanore a set made at a cost of Rs.50 lakhs for the film Pazhasi Raja was destroyed. Mamooty is acting in the film. Similarly, a set near Adhirapalli water falls in Kerala was destroyed. The set was made for the Kala Bhavan's Swarnam film. Similarly, the sets of Jaya Suriya's Shakespeare M.A and Prithvee Raj's One Way Ticket films were also destroyed. The sets of Twenty-Twenty produced by the Kerala Actors' Association was destroyed and the shootings of all these films were cancelled. The actors and actresses who act in these films have been allotted rooms in costliest hotels who without any work spending their time lavishly costing much to the producers.

A LOSS TO TAMIL FILMS

Take the case of the Tamil films. The shooting of Susi Ganesan's Kandasamy is taking place near Kuttralam water falls. Susi had to abandon on several occasions the shooting of the film. Vikram is acting in the film. Another Tamil film Peranmai directed by Jana nathan is going on well. Jayam Ravi is acting in the film. This film unit also cancelled the shootings due to the rain. The film unit suffers without proper lighting for the shooting; hence the unit has to hire Balloon Lightings by paying a heavy rent for each day of their shooting of the film.

The total loss has been estimated at Rs. 10 crore and the Malayalam film industry alone suffered a heavy loss.