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சங்கத் தமிழ்ப் பேரவையின் நன்றிப் பெருவிழா

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Bollywood films and its superstars are rocking the lucrative overseas market, with Shah Rukh Khan’s latest film My Name Is Khan (MNIK) being described as a ‘global phenomenon’ by trade analysts. Hindi films today recover almost 40 percent of its total revenue from overseas markets.

Contrastingly, in Kollywood, films with big heroes have a measly 7 to 10 percent of its total gross from overseas markets. Why is it that the overseas market of Tamil films is not in the league of Hindi films, despite being the second largest revenue earner among Indian films in foreign countries? Reasons Jayavel Murugan, one of the biggest distributors for Tamil films in the US, “First and foremost, there is only a market for Tamil superstars like Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Vijay, Suriya, Vikram and Ajith — in that order. There is no real market for other heroes’ films as a lot depends on reviews on the Internet. Recently, Tamizh Padam (a spoof on Kollywood) — which got rave reviews on the Internet — has become a sleeper hit.”

Last year, 60 to 65 of the total 132 films were released in overseas markets. However, considering the fact that the Tamil diaspora has settled in more than 50 countries globally, the revenue from Tamil films is insignificant. The highest collecting Tamil films in the overseas market are — Sivaji (said to have grossed around Rs 12 crore), Dasavatharam (rumoured to have grossed around Rs 10 crore) and Pokkiri (around Rs 5 crore).

The reason for the lacklustre response to Tamil films at the BO overseas is mainly due to rampant piracy. According to an estimate made by an Anti Movie Piracy Company (AMPC), about 1,200 illegal websites upload Tamil films the moment they are released. These websites operate out of overseas countries and cater to the local Tamil audiences. Pirated DVDs of Tamil films get released within a day of the film’s release and are sold across the 50 countries where there is revenue potential.

Recently, Bollywood biggies signed up with multiple AMPCs to delete illegal Internet video streams of movies like 3 Idiots, Paa and the recent MNIK. So, why cannot Tamil producers employ similar tactics to prevent illegal files of their films on the Internet? Says a leading Tamil producer, “The trouble is that while Hindi films are literally releasing worldwide in 400 to 500 screens, Tamil films release in hardly a dozen countries (in 50 to 70 screens). Also, Hindi films are getting newer markets (MNIK released in 8 screens in Egypt) where there are hardly any Indians. But, Tamil films have not gone beyond traditional markets.”

Concludes Jayavel Murugan, “Top Bollywood heroes go to every nook and corner of the planet to promote their films. But, Kollywood superstars refuse to do overseas promotions. Kollywood should shed its conservative approach and market films aggresively if it wants to survive.”

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சினிமாவும் சின்னத்திரையும்: கமல் பேச்சு





தியேட்டர் அதிபர் அபிராமி ராமநாதன், இப்போது சின்னத்திரை சீரியல் தயாரிப்பிலும் முழுமூச்சாக இறங்கியிருக்கிறார். இதற்காக இவர் தொடங்கியிருக்கும் `டிவி சீரியல் டிவிஷனை' நடிகர் கமல்ஹாசன் தொடங்கிவைத்தார்.

அப்போது அவர்,’’சின்னத்திரை அளவில் வேண்டுமானால் சிறிதாகத் தெரியலாம். ஆனால் அதன் வீச்சு பெரிய வீச்சு. இதை உணர்ந்தவர்களில் நானும் ஒருவன்.

சினிமா-சின்னத்திரை இரண்டையும் ஒன்றையொன்று எதிர்த்து நிற்கும் ஊடகமாக நான் பார்க்கவில்லை. ஒன்றின் பலத்தால் இன்னொன்று வாழும். இரண்டும் ஒன்று சேர்ந்து நன்றாக வாழப்போகிறது.

சமீபத்தில் நடந்த சினிமா பன்முக கருத்தரங்கில், இனிவரும் திரைப்படங்களை பாதுகாக்கவும், முறைப்படுத்தவும் காப்புரிமையை கடைப்பிடிக்க வேண்டும் என்று தீர்மானம் நிறைவேற்றியிருக்கிறோம். சின்னத்திரையிலும் இந்த காப்புரிமை திட்டத்தை கொண்டு வந்தால் பிரயோஜனமாக இருக்கும் என்று நம்புகிறேன்’’என்று பேசினார்.

KAMAL HASSAN BIOGRAPHY

Kamal Hassan’s affinity towards and excellence in the performing arts was evident even as a child, when he won his first National Film Award. He has since then stepped into the shoes of a Bharthnatyam dancer, actor, screenplay writer, director, lyricist, playback singer and known to play multiple roles in a single film - all of which command an applause.

A Child Prodigy
Kamal Hassan was born into an Iyengar family on the 7th November 1954 in Paramakudi in Tamil Nadu. His father Srinivasan practiced law and his mother is Rajalakshmi. His brothers Charu and Chandra also carry the surname Hassan owing to their father’s friendship with a man named Hassan.

Even as a child he acted in several films and plays.
Hassan was married to classical dancer Vani Ganapathi in 1978. They parted ways in 1988. He then married the actress Sarika with whom he had two daughters Akshara and Shruthi, the latter is all set to make her mark as an actress. The marriage with Sarika broke up in 2002. He is rumoured to be living with Gouthami, a well-known actress.
He is a recipient of the Padma Shri award in 1990.

Back To Back Success
1960 Kamal Hassan, made his debut in 1960, when he was six years old, in the Tamil film Kalathur Kannamma. He won the National Film Award for Best Child Artist, the first of his four National Awards. He acted in atleast five other films as a child.

1970-1979 When he came back to films again in 1972, he played second fiddle to leading stars like in Arangetram and Sollathan Ninaikkiren. In 1974, his acting prowess was recognized with a Filmfare Best Actor Award for his role in Kanyakumari, a Malayalam film. The awards became almost routine with the Tamil films that followed like K. Balachander's Apoorva Raagangal which explored relationships with age-gaps, which was controversial in that era; 16 Vayathinile in which he played the role of a man who is mentally undeveloped and also Manmadha Leelai, and Oru Oodhappu Kan Simittugiradhu. He was part of several films directed by K.Balachandran and worked with co-stars like Sridevi and Rajinikanth.

1980-1989 The eighties saw him in Tamil films like Moondram Pirai and Apoorva Sagodharargal. He won the National Film Award for Moondram Pirai in which he played a teacher with Sridevi. His Telugu film in 1983, Saagara Sangamam won him the Filmfare Best Telugu Actor Award for his portrayal of a dancer. He also starred in the Hindi films Ek Duje Ke Liye and Sagar, the latter won him the Filmfare Best Actor Award, in 1985. The 1989 film, Pushpak, a silent film and a black comedy, won him the Filmfare Best Kannada Actor Award. Nayagan, inspired by The Godfather, fetched him his third National Film Award. It was India’s entry to the Academy Awards’ Best Foreign Language Film category in 1987 and went on to be listed in Times Top 100 Movies.

1990-1999 The nineties saw a lot of laughs with films like Michael Madhana Kamarajan, Sathi Leelavathi based on She-Devil and Avvai Shanmughi based on Mrs.Doubtfire. In 1992, he produced and acted in Thevar Magan, for which he got the Filmfare Best Tamil Actor Award for his role of Shakti, the son of a village head. The film was nominated in 1992 for the Academy Awards’ Best Foreign Language Film category. Indian, a Tamil film released in 1996, saw Hassan walking away with his fourth National Film Award and The Filmfare Best Tamil Actor Award. He made his directorial debut with Chachi 420, a remake of Avvai Shanmughi in Hindi.

2000-2009 The year 2000 began with his second directorial venture Hey Ram, which was made in Hindi and Tamil. Hassan scripted, produced and acted in it. He won the Filmfare Best Tamil Actor Award, though the film was more of a critical success rather than a commercial one. He acted in quite a few funnies like Thenali, Panchathantiram and Pammal K. Sambandam. He played Nalla Sivam in Anbe Sivam with Madhavan. He directed, scripted, acted and produced Virumaandi in 2004, about death penalty. In 2006 he had a big hit in Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu, in which played an honest cop. His most recent film in 2008 was the extravagant Dasavathaaram, in which he played ten different roles.

He is currently working on his project Thalaivan Irrukiran, a film to be released in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi, for which he has penned the screenplay and is set to direct it, his love for multiple roles evident on and off screen.