Showing posts with label Ponniyin Selvan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ponniyin Selvan. Show all posts
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 745
11:58 PM
WILL VIKRAM VEDHA EMERGE AS ANOTHER HIT FILM OF BOLLYWOOD?
Brahmastra is a hit and has brought a lot of happiness into the industry. Now, all eyes are on Vikram Vedha, starring Hrithik Roshan and Saif Ali Khan. It is the 2017 remake of the same name and just the original version, it is also directed by Pushkar-Gayatri. Hrithik Roshan and Saif Ali Khan have stepped into the shoes of Vijay Sethupathi and R Madhavan respectively. Radhika Apte, Rohit Saraf and Sharib Hashmi also feature in this movie.
The teaser of the film was very well received and it made it clear that the film is promising. The trailer confirmed it. Many expected the film to open at Rs. 25 crores plus. However, it doesn’t seem to be happening and the first-day earnings should be in the range of Rs. 14-15 crores. As per the trends nowadays, the public is adopting a wait-and-watch strategy for this film. Hence, the advance booking is satisfactory but nowhere near Brahmastra. What has gone against the film is that it doesn’t look like an ideal family film. Also, the song ‘Alcoholia’ got noticed but didn’t become a chartbuster.
On the positive side, the response from the special screenings and media previews is unanimously positive. It has given hope that even if the morning and afternoon shows perform poorly, the film will pick up in the evening and night. Moreover, Sunday, October 2 is the Gandhi Jayanti holiday and then there’s Dussehra on Wednesday, October 5. The collections on these two days can be huge. Also, it has no competition till Diwali. Hence, if the public accepts the film, it’ll run in cinemas for 4-5 weeks successfully.
The other release of the week is Ponniyin Selvan - Part 1. It is a Tamil film, which will be dubbed in Hindi. Directed by Mani Ratnam, it stars Vikram, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Jayam Ravi, Karthi, Trisha, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Sobhita Dhulipala, Jayaram, Prakash Raj and others. Due to the sprawling star cast and association of A R Rahman and Mani Ratnam, the excitement for the Tamil version is incredible. Hence, it’s sure to have a record opening down South. The Hindi version, however, will struggle to cross even the Rs. 1 crore mark on Friday.
Finally, there’s Plan A Plan B on Netflix. It stars Riteish Deshmukh and Tamannaah Bhatia and is directed by Shashanka Ghosh. The trailer looks fresh and it can make for a nice romcom.
After success of National Cinema Day, tickets to be available for Rs. 100 this week
8:28 AM
As cinema owners reduce ticket rates again, industry experts explain the reason behind slashed prices and the way forward
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 27, 2022)
On National Cinema Day (September 23), movie buffs thronged cinema halls, as the tickets were modestly priced at Rs. 75. From Brahmastra being sold out in almost all theatres, to Chup: Revenge Of The Artist and Dhoka Round D Corner, every film benefited. Now, to mark the festive period, film tickets will be priced at ₹100 till September 29.
TEST THE WATERS
Rajender Singh Jyala, chief programming officer, INOX Leisure, tells us, “After a positive response to the Rs. 75 plan, we thought of experimenting some more. We wanted to see if lower ticket prices get the same response again or if it was just a one-day phenomenon. If it gets the same kind of response, we can discuss about this (low ticket rates) with the stakeholders.”
Films such as Chup: Revenge Of The Artist managed to rake in the moolah due to the cheap pricing, says director R Balki: “It doesn’t immediately position itself as a mass film. The Rs. 75 pricing opened us up to the fact that so many people want to come to the theatres; it’s only the high ticket prices that keep them away.”
PEOPLE VS PRICES
The focus should be on getting more people to the theatres, than just making one ticket expensive, feels exhibitor Akshaye Rathi. “I hope the movie-going business can go back to being more accessible,” he shares.
FESTIVE HIKE
The festive period is usually accompanied by hiked ticket prices, as big films usually release around this time. So, why reduce the prices? Trade analyst Taran Adarsh says it’s because people are in the mood to spend during this time. “They travel, shop and watch films. When you keep ticket for as low as Rs. 75 and Rs. 100 on weekdays, it’s a great idea.”
What cannot be missed is the fact that the ticket prices have only been reduced until September 29, so two big films that release on September 30 — actors Hrithik Roshan and Saif Ali Khan’s Vikram Vedha and filmmaker Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan: I (PS 1) — will not be available for Rs. 100 per ticket.
Jyala emphasises that producers feel if the budget of a film is high and the ticket prices are low, the recovery won’t happen: “Hence, Vikram Vedha and PS 1 will play at a regular price.”
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After the success of National Cinema Day, some cinemas are selling tickets for as low as Rs. 100 as a special Navratri offer, and some are planning to experiment with an affordable ticket pricing model in the future too
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; September 28, 2022)
“Would you go to watch more films at cinemas if tickets cost less?” – when we asked moviegoers this, almost all of them responded positively. And guess what? Multiplexes are listening and hence it was not just on last Friday (National Cinema Day) when tickets cost only Rs. 75 or this week when all films playing in theatres will cost you only Rs. 100 (offer lasts till Thursday), but cinemas are planning to experiment with an affordable pricing model in the long run.
‘LOT OF EXPERIMENTATION BEING DONE BY CINEMA OPERATORS’
Following the two-year hiatus due to the pandemic and later due to high ticket prices, when moviegoers registered a record of over 65 lakh consumers in a day on National Cinema Day, it led to discussions on lowering average ticket prices and hence the experimenting phase in cinemas has begun.
Kamal Gianchandani, President, Multiplex Association of India (MAI), says, “There is a lot of experimentation being done by various cinema operators at this point. Disney, Dharma and other studios, who have films playing in theatres, have been very supportive in this regard. We are constantly listening to our customers and other stakeholders of the business. We have always taken ticket pricing and other similar decisions keeping the interest of consumers and all stakeholders in mind. We will continue to do so in the future.”
100, 112, 120, OR 150 – CINEMAS TO DECIDE ON KEEPING THE TICKET PRICE LOW
Rajender Singh Jyala, Chief Programming Officer, INOX Leisure Ltd, says, “This week is an experiment to see if people will come on weekdays at this price. After Thursday once the numbers are in, we will analyze it and decide our next step.”
Does this mean that cinemas will continue to keep lower prices? “Yes, we are experimenting with this. Will it be 112 or 120 or 150 and so on that’s what we will decide. But 75 and 100 are too low to sustain. Big budget films will not be able to recover with this price,” he adds.
NO DISCUSSIONS WITH BIG BUDGET FILMS ON KEEPING 100 SLAB
Recently, when Mani Ratnam visited cinemas for an event, it was reported that there was a discussion on keeping tickets for Rs. 100 only for his upcoming release Ponniyin Selvan: I. However, Gianchandani has denied this.
He says, “This is not true. There has been no such request from Mani Ratnam. He is fully supportive of all ticket pricing-related initiatives that are being taken by the cinema operators.”
Similarly, there were other reports saying that the makers of another upcoming release Vikram Vedha have suggested the same but Jyala says that there has been no such discussion with the makers of this film.
Pan-Indian cinema is a trend now because people are open to watching such films-Mani Ratnam
8:21 AM
Prakash S (BOMBAY TIMES; April 28, 2022)
Pan-Indian film is a term that has come to be used often now in the Indian film industry, with Bãhubali and KGF franchises, and RRR attracting fans across the country. Though the Tamil film industry is churning out films that promise to cater to the sensibilities of pan-Indian audiences, there is a notion that Tamil cinema is not matching up to Telugu and Kannada cinema in this aspect.
Mani Ratnam, whose movies like Roja and Bombay have appealed to a pan-Indian audience, addressed this concern at an event recently, and said, “This is not something new. Since many films are coming out now and becoming a success in north India, too, we’re talking about it. Earlier, Chandralekha (S S Vasan’s 1948 film), which we made, became successful in north India. No one asked such questions then. Any growth is a positive element and no one can stop this. We’re watching Hollywood films being dubbed in Tamil; so, what’s wrong with watching a Kannada film? If you make good films, then it will become a success everywhere.”
So, if Chandralekha and Roja have done it before, pan-Indian cinema is not new. But why did it not become a trend then and why now? “Well, the first part of the question doesn’t matter anymore. Now, people are filmmakers are also adapting to it,” he answered.
The ace filmmaker further said, “The standard of Tamil cinema is very rich; there are a lot of brilliant filmmakers who are very good. Many young filmmakers are opening new doors for the industry.”
Touching on the role of technology in cinema, Mani Ratnam, whose multilingual period film Ponniyin Selvan – I is in its post-production stage, said, “Any tool which will help us make better films is welcome. Cinema is an expensive art form, and it’s very important to keep the budget under control so we can make better films. It’s wonderful to see a flux of techies entering with innovative ideas to make better cinema.”
Even though Aishwarya Rai knows she is beautiful, she believes it is not a big deal-Radhakrishnan Parthiban
7:25 PM
Ponniyin Selvan actor Radhakrishnan Parthiban on rubbing shoulders with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; March 4, 2022)
Director Radhakrishnan Parthiban shares screen space with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Mani Ratnam’s historical drama, Ponniyin Selvan. As the brother-in-law of one of Rai’s dual characters (Nandini), Parthiban plays the role of one who always warns his brother about his wife’s misdeeds. “I cannot express my joy. I worked with Aishwarya, and interacted with Amitabh sir,” he says, having connected with Bachchan at a curtain-raiser of the filmmaker’s Tamil movie, Iravin Nizhal (Shadow Of The Night) in September.
While his character may not be fond of that of Rai, off screen Parthiban developed a liking for her. “She’s beautiful, physically, but never takes her acting [skills] for granted. She doesn’t even waste a single minute on the sets — wears her makeup, mugs her dialogues, rehearses her facial expressions, and delivers them. She does not take retakes. Even though she [knows] she is beautiful, she believes it is not a big deal.”
Interestingly, Rai was so bowled over by Parthiban’s recent Tamil directorial venture, Otha Seruppu Size 7, that she recommended that husband Abhishek too, have a dekko. “Abhishek told me that he was interested in producing it under their banner. It is not easy to see one person on screen for over two hours and yet, he has taken the risk to produce it,” says Parthiban, who will return as director to helm the Hindi version of the two time National Award winning film.
Having found himself in the good books of the Bachchan couple, Parthiban is keen on making a place in Big B’s heart. “I hope that sir watches SSS7. Once, he had asked me to send the soundtrack of Iravin Nizhal. After that, he was part of the curtain raiser. I realised then how much he loves music.”
The filmmaker reunites with Ratnam, whom he has known for over three decades. “Earlier, Mani sir had offered me two bigger roles. But I was busy with direction. The third time, I said yes. For me, Mani sir is the greatest director in India. We have learnt a lot of things from this legend. For Ponniyin Selvan, he would shoot three scenes a day. That’s tremendous, considering this is a historical movie.”
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan kicks off final leg of Ponniyin Selvan in Hyderabad; Mani Ratnam lines up war sequence
8:15 AM
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; August 6, 2021)
Mani Ratnam is making brisk progress on 'Ponniyin Selvan'. After a short stint in Puducherry, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Vikram, Jayam Ravi and others have apparently commenced the final schedule of the period drama in Hyderabad. A set of a huge fortress has been constructed on a hillock at Ramoji Film City, where Vikram’s character — Aditya Karikalan — will lead a war.
“Vikram has already shot a crowd sequence. Over the next few days, Mani sir will shoot some intense scenes with Aishwarya, Karthi, Trisha and Jayam, and a song with the entire cast. Post that, he will film the Chola expedition that sees Karikalan defeat the Pandya king, Veerapandyan,” reveals a trade source.
Envisaged in two parts, the magnum opus will trace the early days of Arulmozhivarman, who became Emperor Rajaraja Chola I. Rai will be seen in a double role as princess Nandini, and her mother, queen Mandakini Devi. “Nandini manipulates her husband, leading to the downfall of the Chola empire.” The source adds that some portions will be shot in Tamil Nadu and other regions across India.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan begins work on Mani Ratnam's historical drama Ponniyin Selvan
8:18 AM
As she completes 24 years in movies next week, Aishwarya reunites with her first director-mentor Ratnam to begin work on historical drama Ponniyin Selvan
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; January 9, 2021)
The universe has perfect timing, and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will vouch for it. As the actor completes 24 years in the movies next week, she finds herself again under the tutelage of the man who started it all for her - Mani Ratnam. She began shooting for the auteur’s next, Ponniyin Selvan, at Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad from January 6. To be developed in two parts, the period drama offers a retelling of the early days of Arulmozhi Varman before he became the great Chola emperor.
“It was a warm reunion for Aishwarya and Mani sir as they met after over a year. Five massive sets, replicating the 10th century architectural style of the Chola empire, have been designed by Thotta Tharani at the studio. Mani sir has charted out a two-month schedule as he plans to complete a major chunk of the movie,” says a source from the set, adding that the filmmaker had completed two stints before the pandemic.
Rai kicked off the shoot with a dramatic scene with co-star Sarath Kumar. “He plays Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar, the chancellor and treasurer of the Chola kingdom, while Aishwarya portrays Princess Nandini, his beautiful and manipulative wife. She will be seen in a double role as she also plays Nandini’s mother Mandakini Devi.” Vikram and Trisha, who play pivotal roles, will join the unit soon.
Following extensive research, Rai’s stylist Eka Lakhani and makeup team have created looks that are true to the milieu. “She’ll wear her hair to the side in an elaborate updo, complete with chunky gold jewellery, a waistband, and a statement headgear. As Mandakini Devi, she will sport a de-glam look.” The actor is simultaneously rehearsing for a dance number that will be filmed next month. Ratnam’s studio, Madras Talkies, confirmed the news of the shoot.
After lockdown ends, Mani Ratnam to shoot Aishwarya Rai Bachchan-starrer Ponniyin Selvan in one go
8:14 AM
After Ponniyin Selvan schedule goes haywire, Mani Ratnam to shoot Aishwarya Rai Bachchan-starrer in one go to meet 2021 deadline
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; May 28, 2020)
Mani Ratnam was eagerly looking forward to the third schedule of Ponniyin Selvan in Puducherry as it would mark his reunion with protégé Aishwarya Rai Bachchan after Raavan (2010).Unfortunately, the nationwide Coronavirus lockdown was imposed before the auteur could take his place behind the camera for the third stint. With the ongoing shutdown having played havoc with the shoot of the ambitious period drama, sources suggest that Ratnam is planning to call for a start-to-finish schedule when normalcy is restored.
A trade source says, "Amid chatter that shoots may begin from July, Mani sir and his team are reworking the schedules to ensure the film meets its 2021 release. He is hoping to get bulk dates from Chiyaan Vikram, Aishwarya, Karthi and the ensemble cast so that the film can be wrapped up in one go. If all goes well, they will begin the Puducherry leg with Vikram and Aishwarya. If they don't get the necessary permission for an outdoor shoot, they might change the venue to the AVM Studios in Chennai." The period drama, based on the life of Arulmozhi Varman before he became the great Chola emperor, sees Rai in a double role — as Nandini, the manipulative wife of Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar, and queen Mandakini Devi.
Shiva Anand, executive producer, Madras Talkies, confirms that the first instalment of the two-part movie will be shot in one go. "Like everybody else in the industry, we are waiting for the shoot to resume and talk to the actors about their dates. It will be difficult to coordinate the schedules, but it's our job to figure out a way," he says. Even though the period piece is mounted on a grand scale and relies heavily on post-production, Anand is confident that it will be ready for its date with the audience next year. "We have no intention of compromising on the film. We will release the first part next year, though we don't have clarity on the release date yet."
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