TN Association resolve not distribute films if released on DTH

With Kamal Haasan releasing his movie 'Vishwaroopam' on the DTH format first, The Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners Association and Tamil Nadu Film Distributors Federation have resolved not to screen and distribute movies if they are released on the Direct-to-Home platform.

The two organisations passed the resolution at a joint meeting here last night following Haasan's decision to release the movie on January 10, a day before the scheduled release in theatres, a statement said today.

TNTOA president R M Annamalai said they were ready for talks with Haasan, before the release of 'Vishwaroopam' on DTH platform.

"What Haasan is doing is like kicking the ladder after climbing up," he said, adding, actors attained star status only after their movies were screened in cinemas all these years.

'Abirami' Ramanathan, TNTOA additional president, said business of theatre owners would be badly hit by this release.

More than 700 members of the association and the federation from different parts of the State attended the meeting.

The Tamil Nadu Cinema Theatres Association had already threatened that they will not screen any film of Haasan if he went ahead with his plan to release 'Vishwaroopam' on DTH format ahead of its release in theatres.

The upcoming movie has run into another controversy with some Muslim groups demanding that the film be screened to them prior to its release, expressing concern over the depiction of the community in it.