Rising production costs seem to have hit the Malayalam film industry hard.
Budget overruns, and rising pay packets, coupled with change in production plans, have widened the gap between budget and return on investment for producers.
“The budget of a superstar movie easily exceeds Rs.8 crore these days. Print and publicity expenses further escalate the cost,” a senior member of the Kerala Film Producers Association said. Producers complain that efforts to cut down on spending have not worked, with repeated pleas for pay cut, better planning, and proper conduct of shooting falling on deaf ears.
“Shooting schedule itself has gone up from what was 50 days earlier to 75 days now. Even a movie with a new crop of young actors too costs around Rs.5 to Rs.6 crore, excluding print and publicity costs,” said a member of the executive committee of the association.
False notion
Meanwhile, a noted producer admitted that Mollywood seemed to be led by a false notion that every movie would hit the jackpot at the box-office. “People somehow create an impression before shooting that the movie will become a major hit and easily cross 100 days,” he said.
Referring to a forthcoming flick based on an epic character, with production cost exceeding Rs.80 crore, industry watchers asked: “How would it break-even if satellite and other rights were to be sold at exorbitant rates, and the film were to have a good run at the box-office.”
Interestingly, senior producers reveal that budgets are strictly monitored and severe austerity is ensured when an actor or a director turns a producer. Nowadays, more and more actors are turning producers by launching their own banners.
They ensure that budgets do not exceed and shooting schedule is not over-stretched.
In short, a project, which may otherwise cost Rs.5 crore, will be wrapped up at Rs.4.25 crore, if it is produced by an actor.
