Producer Vishnu Vardhan Induri’s Thalaivii (Hindi) may have to go without getting shows in the national multiplex chains. PVR, Inox and Cinepolis seem to be in no mood to accommodate the film, which is slated for release on 10th September, as the producer has decided to premiere it on Netflix two weeks after its theatrical release. The Tamil and Telugu versions will also be premiered on another streaming platform, just 14 days after the cinema release on 10th. The two South versions will have their premiere on Amazon Prime.
The reason for the three national multiplex chains refusing to bow down to the demand/request of the producer is that the three major chains have collectively decided to insist on a minimum exclusive theatrical window of four weeks till normalcy returns. The chains are screening Bell Bottom and Chehre because both the producers agreed to hold back the digital screening for four weeks from the date of theatrical release. A top officer of a leading multiplex chain told Information, “Two weeks is simply not acceptable to us. If we make a concession in the case of one film (in this case, Thalaivii), another producer would ask for a similar or a new concession. This will never stop. We recently finalised our agreement with Yash Raj Films. That agreement also stipulates an exclusive cinema window of four weeks.” The multiplex chain spokesman also clarified that the four-week window is only till normalcy returns. “After that, we will revert to the pre-pandemic 8-week theatrical window,” he concluded.
P.S.: News comes in that producer Induri has agreed to hold back the OTT screening for four weeks for the two South versions. However, he is still insisting on premiering the Hindi version after two weeks from its theatrical release date.