Lingaa producer Rockline Venkatesh takes on distributor
Distributors demanding Rajinikanth’s intervention for the losses incurred screening the film
By : anupama subramanian
Update: 2015-01-11 07:15 GMT
Chennai: A group of distributors under the leadership of Singaravelan, distributor of Lingaa in Tiruchy and Thanjavur districts, went on a day-long fast near Valluvar Kottam on Saturday, demanding Rajinikanth’s intervention for the losses incurred screening the film. They claimed that their efforts to get compensation from the producer of the movie, Rockline Venkatesh, had proved futile. They have threatened to continue the fast on Monday.
Speaking to the press later, Rockline Venkatesh said that it was absurd of a distributor like Singaravelan to designate a movie a flop on the fourth day after its release. “That’s like killing a newborn,” he said.
“Had he spoken after four or five weeks of the film’s release, it would have made sense. He was trying to bring disrepute to a star like Rajinikanth sir who was so magnanimous. The Superstar said that Singaravelan was speaking thus out of frustration. ‘If the condition remains the same even after four weeks, we will sit down and come to an amicable solution’, he told me. No one asks an actor to compensate them when a film runs at a loss; yet Rajini dealt with the issue in a humanitarian way,” he added.
Venkatesh thought that Singaravelan was resorting to publicity-seeking gimmicks. “Why would he make this a political issue, saying that Rajini had given the film to a Kannadiga (myself) and looted the TN distributors and gone. I have done two films earlier in Tamil. Let him not use the cinema platform for personal gain,” he said.
The producer also challenged Singaravelan’s claim that he had done business to the tune of Rs 220 crore whereas the investment was merely Rs 45 crore. “Let him call 10 people of repute from the industry, and prove that the figure he is mentioning is correct and I will compensate those who have made losses. If not, he has to apologise in front of the entire industry and repent for what he has said about Rajinikanth and close the issue.”
Venkatesh also said that he would take legal recourse if Singaravelan went to court. He said that other producers felt that returning the money would set a bad precedent.
‘Distributors’ shabby behaviour not warranted’:
Producer Shiva of Vendhar Movies, who bought the major distribution rights in Tamil Nadu for Lingaa, said that distributors behaving in such a shabby manner was not warranted.
“I sincerely apologise for giving the TT distribution of Lingaa to Singaravelan who tarnished Rajini sir’s image.
We are also facing losses by distributing Lingaa. But this is all part of a business. Let Venkatesh consult Rajini sir and give all the distributors some relief.”