Will Mayajaal sell tickets at Rs 15?
By Moviebuzz | Tuesday, 26 December , 2006, 20:13
Mayajaal multiplex on ECR on the way to Mahabalipuram is one of the most popular getaways for up market young IT crowd in Chennai. The six- screen multiplex (seating capacity- 960) has the highest admission rate in Tamilnadu- Rs 150 to 200. Still on week-ends it clocks 90 to 95 percent occupancy!
The big news is that from January 1st, 2007 as per the new government order, Mayajaal will have to sell their tickets at Rs 15! Ridiculous it may sound, but unfortunately Mayajaal falls in a Panchayat area in Kancheepuram district, where as per the Tamilnadu government order the highest ticket rate there can only be only Rs 15!
The multiplex is currently the “Collection King” among theatres in NSC area. Recently Vetayadu Vilayadu, created a record there by collecting a distributors share of Rs 25 Lakhs. Now it will be a miracle of sorts if the Pongal releases like Pokiri or Aalwar collects a share of Rs 1.50 or 2 Lakhs from Mayajaal, with the new rates coming into effect from Jan 1st.
Now the big question is- Will Mayajaal close down? It is impossible to run the multiplex on the proposed new rates, as it will not be sufficient to run their AC plant! And the up market exclusivity of the theatre also vanishes. Above all it will be Tamil film collections that are going to be badly hit!
An emergency meeting of the distributors association and producers of Pongal Films are to be held on 28 Dec. The distributors of NSC area will demand an exemption for Mayajaal, as it is the goose that lays the golden egg for them. But the Tamilnadu government is unlikely to exempt any theatre in the state from the new admission rates.
A few days back, a very influential exhibitor in the state had tried to work out an exemption for his multiplex with one of the bigwigs in the state government. However the person concerned made it clear that nobody will go against the wishes of the Chief Minister and the new admission rates will be implemented.
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