Mumbai: Tamil superstar Rajinikanth’s last release ‘Lingaa’ that opened to a global premiere on December 12 reported box office losses in several suburban districts in Tamil Nadu. Film distributors and theatre owners from these areas are demanding their money back, claiming that they had paid several crores to the film’s production cost to acquire screening rights. Lingaa’s purported poor show at the suburban box-office has forced distributors and theatre owners to ask for their money back.
Seven film distributors of the film have demanded a refund because they say that between them, they have lost 40 crores. Only one distributor for the film has not joined the group. Trade sources initially celebrated the fact that Lingaa took a whopping opening on release and grossed Rs 100 crore in three days, but none of these claims have been verified. ‘Lingaa’ was purchased by Eros International for Rs100 crore and sold to smaller distributors at a rumoured ‘double that cost’ price.
In 2002, Rajinikanth is said to have compensated distributors when his film ‘Baba’ flopped. He did the same in 2008 when his ‘Kuselan’ tanked at the box office. Let’s hope the distributors find some relief and their demands are met.
Film distributors are threatening a hunger strike in Chennai on Saturday to ask for their money back. Some of them have been quoted saying that because of Rajinikanth’s god-like stature they went ahead and borrowed money to screen the film.
Directed by K.S. Ravikumar, ‘Lingaa’ released on Rajinikanth’s birthday last year Dec 12. It also features Sonakshi Sinha and Anushka Shetty in lead roles.
