No big cut-outs and no great celebration

The larger-than-life cut-outs of stars towering over the city that are associated with the release of a star movie may have bowed out of Puducherry’s theatres indefinitely.

This was palpably noticeable during the release of the superstar-vehicle ‘Kochadaiiyaan’ last Friday.

While the much-hyped release saw Rajinikanth fans in the neighbouring State of Tamil Nadu celebrating the release of their idol’s digital avatar debut in the usual fashion, Puducherry’s fans had to contend with radio silence. The usual euphoria and frenzy were strangely absent from the threatres though the crowds did throng release venues.

The low-key celebrations are attributed to the prevailing ban on banners and cut-outs on premises of film theatres issued by the district administration.

According to District Collector S. B. Deepak, the ban is in keeping with the ban on posters and hoardings in public spaces in Puducherry that has been around for a year.

Though similar bans have been enforced in Puducherry, massive cut-outs and hoardings of both political leaders and film stars have made an appearance every now and then, though they have not surfaced for the last eight months.

While scaffoldings were seen in a couple of few theatres, a display board prohibiting fan clubs from putting up banners and cautioning legal action was displayed in a city theatre.

“We have allowed two official posters of the movie on the theatre premises,”adds Mr. Deepak.

“We usually keep 60 to 80 feet high cut-outs in all the theatres that screen our thalaivar’s movie,” says N.B. Bodhi, district coordinator of Puduvai Rajni Rasigar Mandram.

“This time we did not feel the usual euphoria. We distributed sweets and performed a milk abhisehgam on the poster they had in the theatre. We were not allowed to put up the usual ‘vazhaimaram’ (decked banana tree) also.”

The clash between two rival fan associations on simultaneous release of the movie of two stars some months ago and heavy damage to property may have led to the strict enforcement, according to member of a fan’s association in the city.

“We hope that we get permission for the superstar’s next release Lingaa,” says Mr. Bodhi.

Puducherry has always been more popular for its unbridled piracy than for its theatres, many of which are now running as restaurants and wedding halls. Theatres in the city are talking points only during release of such star movies.