Tamil Nadu theatres to ban 'Vishwaroopam'?

Coimbatore: Tamil Nadu Cinema Theatres Association on Wednesday threatened that none of Kamal Haasan's movies will be released, old or new, in any theatres in the state, if he goes ahead with his plan to release his 'Vishwaroopam' on DTH format, before screening in theatres.

In view of Haasan deciding to release 'Vishwaroopam' in DTH on January 10 and in theatres the next day, theatre owners and their representatives across the state met on Wednesday to decide their future course of action.

Briefing reporters on the deliberations of the meeting, association general secretary, Paneerselvam said theatre owners have already asked Haasan not to release the film on DTH, which would set a precedent, leading to closure of theatres.

The pirated CD and new films shown in Television has taken a toll of audience-attendance in theatres in Tamil Nadu, number of which has gone down from 3,000 to 1,200 now and once a step like DTH becomes a precedent, there would not be any theatres in future, he said.

"For one's profit and benefit, it is not fair to bring down the entire film theatre industry...," Paneerselvam said.

"In case, he goes ahead with the move to release it on DTH before releasing it in theatres, we will not screen his movies, old or new, in any theatres in the state," he added.

The association claimed that the actor has decided to release the film in theatres in other States, including Kerala and said it would request him not to mete out such "step-motherly" treatment to Tamil Nadu theatres.