Why was there no clarity about the VPF charges for this week’s release, Jolly LL.B 3? Had there been clarity, the advance booking would’ve gone on smoothly, without PVR Inox having to suspend it twice in two days.
– There was no clarity because the rules are different for Hollywood films from what they are for Bollywood films. While Hollywood studios in India are not liable to pay VPF, the Indian distributors are required to pay VPF to the exhibitors. This is an anomaly which needs to be removed. It is high time, exhibitors stopped charging VPF. Coming back to JOLLY LL.B 3, it is being distributed by a Hollywood studio and hence it took the view that it would not be liable to pay VPF on its Indian film too. However, the PVR Inox multiplex chain claimed VPF from Star Studio18 because JOLLY LL.B 3 is an Indian film. The chain’s argument is that the waiver of VPF is for Hollywood films only.
Can you explain how Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba The Movie: Infinity Castle, a Japanese anime film, did so well in India last week?
– Japanese anime films are soon becoming a craze with the young brigade in India.
How did Aabeer Gulaal fare in the Overseas circuit. I ask this question because I’d like to know whether releasing a film only in Overseas circuit, without releasing it simultaneously in India, can become a trend, like Aabeer Gulaal was released last week?
– AABEER GULAAL fared extremely badly abroad. Such a lopsided release was suicidal. Anyway, why would you even want to know whether such a release strategy would become a trend? After all, no one in his senses would want to release his film in just one circuit (Overseas) to the complete exclusion of the whole of India. The producers of AABEER GULAAL had no other option because there is no clarity on the point of India theatrical release of a film starring a Pakistani hero (Fawad Khan in the case of AABEER GULAAL).