Vishal's remarks on producers council trigger controversy

Chennai: A recent interview given by actor Vishal to a Tamil magazine where he has reportedly humiliated Tamil Film Producers Council, the supreme body of Tamil film industry, has triggered a controversy among the council members.

To a query in the interview about why only producers are at a loss when a film fails while all others, including actors, make their money, Vishal  had said only the  producer concerned and producer council should be blamed. They never come together and discuss burning issues like how to stop piracy, how to incorporate new methods like selling officially the DVD of a film after 15 days of its release like in Bollywood films, giving single telecast of satellite rights within a month of film release, DTH rights etc to increase revenue.

“If someone says a hero owes Rs 50 lakh to me and please mediate, immediately they will assemble and enjoying Bonda and Bajji , they would discuss.” Selfless people with open mindedness should come in the board. Then only Tamil cinema would flourish.

He also added that if a situation arises, he would jump into fray in TFPC’s  elections scheduled for January 2017. At a hurriedly convened press conference with president Thanu heading it to discuss the issue and to take it further, many producers slapped Vishal verbally for his alleged bad remarks on them. It was revealed at the meeting that despite secretary of the council T.Siva calling up Vishal and asking him about the interview, Vishal had said  what he said was right.

A few like Azhagappan, Rajan and Mansoor Ali Khan spoke in support of Vishal. Total chaos prevailed when Mansoor Ali Khan raised his voice backing Vishal and criticising the council for not helping needy producers, including him.
Later, a resolution was adopted that TFPC will give one week for Vishal to regret for having given such an interview. Failing which, barring his Deepavali release Kaththi Sandai, he will not be given support for any of his future films by producers council and any producer.

To reduce the mounting cost of production, those actors, actresses and technicians who are getting a remuneration of above '50 lakh, should cut down their salary by 30 percent. It was resolved to air films on satellite channels on telecast basis.

When Vishal was contacted by this newspaper, he clearly said as a producer he never got any intimation about the meeting and also never received any letter of correspondence regarding the so-called cooperation. “I will tell my side when
I receive the letter”, he said.