While films with quality content did well in 2018, it was also the year when simmering discontent among stakeholders in the Tamil film industry spilled over.
The start of the year saw the Tamil Film Producers Council (TFPC) helmed by actor Vishal calling for the scrapping of the Visual Print Fee (VPF), charged by digital service providers such as QUBE and UFO in March.
At the same time, the Theatre Owners Association shut for a week from March 16 urging the State to abolish local body tax among other demands. For 48 days, the industry was crippled.
The year saw the release of several blockbusters such as Rajinikanth’s Kaala and 2.0 , Kamal Haasan’s Vishwaroopam 2 and Vijay’s Sarkar .
Sun Pictures came back to production with Sarkar and is helming Rajinikanth’s next film, Petta , as well.
Paving the way for the industry to bet big on content, smaller films such as Pariyerum Perumal , Ratsasan and 96 won over more audiences than big ticket films.
Meanwhile, PVR Ltd. bought SPI Cinemas in a transaction valued at ₹850 crore.
#MeToo
With the #MeToo movement taking the nation by storm, Kollywood too came under the scanner with singer Chinmayi raising allegations against poet Vairamuthu and filmmaker Leena Manimekalai and actor Amala Paul speaking out against director Susi Ganesan.
As concerns grew about the lack of an agency to address such complaints, Nadigar Sangam president Nasser said that they would be establishing a body to ensure women have safer working conditions.
Despite a system in place where films could be released only after they were greenlit by the TFPC, concerns were raised about preference given to certain producers and films. As discontent increased about the TFPC’s conductfunctioning of the TFPC, December saw a drama unfurl as a faction rebelled against the office bearers and locked up the offices of the council alleging misappropriation of funds and unilateral functioning by Vishal as the president of the council.
Collision course
Even as the year ends, there’s no time to rest for Kollywood. January 10 will see the clash of two major stars at the box office- Ajith’s Viswasam and Rajinikanth’s Petta . While the industry has its concerns on the impact the clash can have on the films’ collections, it promises to be a double treat for fans.
Throughout the year, all eyes were trained on the political moves of Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan. Expressing his intent to connect with the common people through ‘Naalai Namadhey’ Mr. Haasan has started a tour of the State, keen to fight the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in an alliance. Meanwhile, Mr. Rajinkanth is yet to announce his party.
