The Competition Commission of India has restrained a regional film chamber from preventing exhibition of new film ‘Raavan’ starring Abhishek and Aishwarya Bachchan being distributed by Anil Ambani-led Reliance Big Pictures.
In an interim order issued late last night, on a complaint filed by Reliance Big Pictures, nation-wide distributors of Mani Ratnam-directed ‘ Raavan ’, the CCI restrained Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce from preventing exhibition of the film.
When contacted, Reliance Big Pictures confirmed the news and said, “As on June 18, 2010, ‘ Raavan ’ and ‘ Raavanan ’ would be playing in 24 theatres in Mysore circuit, in all multiplexes and in multiple screens in these multiplexes.”
According to sources, these chambers impose such bans in order to promote regional films. The CCI said that it was an abuse of dominance.
The CCI has asked its Director General (Investigation) to probe the prevalent practice of discrimination against Hindi films.
“Reliance Big Pictures has filed a complaint against at least 12-13 parties in different territories, mostly non-Hindi speaking belts, exhibitors’ associations discriminate against Hindi films, in terms of number of cinema halls as well as number of shows which is unfair and non-competitive,” an official source told PTI.
According to a company statement, “The CCI has passed a judgement in favour of Reliance BIG Pictures restraining Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce from taking any action direct or indirect to prevent any exhibitor from exhibiting the film ‘ Raavan ’ and ‘ Raavanan ’ in the State of Karnataka if exhibitors are willing and desirous to exhibit these films.”
