Now, AMMA looks home for profits

Television’s finance model is considered safer when compared to the big screen

Finally, big screen actors may get the official nod to appear on the small screen.

The Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA), which in the past had to deal with petitions from producers and distributors about actors’ appearance in television shows, is now actively toying with a proposal to make television serials. A final decision will be taken at its general body meeting to be held in Kochi on June 28.

With artistes, except nearly 50 actors out of the 480 registered members, remaining jobless round the year, AMMA was prompted to think about the idiot box, people in the know of the proposal told

Tinsel Town .

“We hope that making serials will provide them a regular earning. The finance model in television is far safer compared to the big screen,” said a senior functionary of AMMA.

Leading television channels seem to have evinced interest in joining hands with the association of artistes to churn out serials on a long-term basis. The revenue model is yet to be worked out, but the initial plan is to roll out a contract-based production model, which will not burn the pockets of the investors.

The AMMA representatives said they had no intention of raking up earnings by making serials. “The idea is to give jobs to our members. Unlike other sectors, those in the industry have no other option but to stick on and search for a job here,” they said.

Unlike a movie, investing in the multi-crore serial industry in Malayalam is often considered a safe option. A producer receives a fee ranging between Rs. 55,000 to Rs. 75,000 for an episode from the television house. Even though the investor may find it tough in the initial phase, the returns will start climbing from the 25th episode onwards.

Television insiders said the expense for an episode may often cross the fee given by the television channel management. They overcome this hurdle by shooting at least one-and-a-half to two episodes daily. A producer may earn a profit of about Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 50,000, if the person succeeds in making two episodes daily.

The association of artistes seems to be banking on the ‘star value’ of actors to increase the ratings for their serials. Big screen actors are also confident that their serials will have improved ratings compared to others.

G. Krishnakumar