The Tamil film industry is all set to resume work after a 48-day shut down. Following a marathon meeting last week, the tripartite talks between the Tamil Film Producers Council (TFPC), the Digital Service Provides (DSPs), and exhibitors, mediated by the state government, came to a positive conclusion. Vishal, president of TFPC, said, “From June 1, the Tamil film industry will become completely transparent. Computerised ticketing will be introduced throughout Tamil Nadu and a Government Order (GO) will be passed on this soon. To make it convenient for the public, flexible pricing of tickets will be introduced. Based on the nature of the film, the ticket rates will be fixed.”
Vishal added that the TFPC will be launching its own online ticket booking platform. “The online booking charge when booked through this facility will be a maximum of '4 per transaction compared to the current 30 per ticket,” he said. The strike had begun with the TFPC differing over charges levied as Virtual Print Fess (VPFs) by the DSPs. Vishal said the DSPs have agreed to reduce the VPF rates. “For a period of six months, E-cinema rates have been brought down from 9000 to 5000 for a week's run. For a film's entire run, the rates have been revised to 10,000 from the earlier 22,000. This kind of reduction in VPF charges hasn't happened in any other state.”
L Suresh, president, South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce, said, “We are happy and very thankful to the Government of Tamil Nadu for intervening in this matter and bringing about a truce. For, never in the history of Tamil films has there been a 45-day strike. We are also happy to note that the exhibitor and producer sectors extended their support and came together with the intention of seeking a solution.”
