Producers react on multiplex issue

The tussle between the producers and the multiplex owners is threatening to bring the industry to its knees. The cinegoers are the worst victim of this tussle. Aamir Khan and Shahrukh Khan have lend their support to the producers. We got reactions from some of the producers in the industry.

Farhan Akhtar: “We make films for the viewers and do realize that this deadlock between producers and distributors may inconvenience them . Therefore every member of our association the United Producers & Distributors Association(UPDA) felt it most important that cinegoers should be informed of our grievances with the mutiplexes. Cinegoers should understand that producers and distributors are justified in their stand. What we seek will also benefit cinegoers.

Subhash Ghai: “On 7 April I was very proud to see the solidarity within our fraternity. They made their point with so much dignity. I hope a solution is found so that both the producers and multiplexes are able to share the benefits. We should not forget that it"s finally one industry.

Ritesh Sidhwani: “The united forum for producers is one of the best things to have happened to us. I feel tackling the multiplex solution is now so much easier since we"ve come together as one united body for the first time. In fact the next project for the UPDA is to combat piracy. And we intend to go at it full-throttle by first banning the illegal screening of new releases on cable television. But first we hope to come to a semblance of solution about the multiplexes in the next couple of days.

Mahesh Bhatt: “The coming together of the fraternity in spite of the differences within,is our greatest achievement. It has silenced the cynics who said that the film industry is an army of generals who can never join hands to take on these bullies. The road ahead is hard. But there"s a do or die resolve within our fraternity . It will carve a happy ending.

Anubhav Sinha: “The biggest achievement of the UPDA meeting is the collective and clear communication of the areas of discussion from one side of the table. There"re three parties to the whole debate. The manufacturer, the retail outlets and the end- users. Unfortunately the end-user remained oblivious to the whole issue. If nothing this meeting will persuade all the 3 parties to the same table. The 3 parties are inter-dependent and a solution is bound to offer itself soon.

Sanjay Gupta: “The UPDA meeting on Tuesday achieved a never-before show of solidarity among the fraternity. The mutiplex owners have no choice but to agree to our demands which are just and correct. The solution finally is delayed and not denied

Pritish Nandy: “A solution is inevitable and will happen soon. Both sides have time on their hands now, what with the IPL and elections both of which will grab increasing mindshare in the coming weeks. After that the pressure to hammer out an equitable and responsible solution will be immense on both sides. The yin cannot kill the yang.

Madhu Mantena: “I think after a long time we were able to send a message across that as a collective industry we stand united on the issue. As both the movie making and multiplex industries are interdependent a quick solution is inevitable. When mutiplexes were incepted with Fame Adlabs we were on the same revenue-share wave-length that producers are asking for now. So I don"t think it"s unreasonable for the multiplexes to agree to our demands. This Friday-to-Friday haggling between producers and muktiplex owners has to stop.

Satish Kaushik: “Though I was not present in the meeting that gathering showed the solidarity among producers. No solution has come yet. But it would have to for the sake of the audience. Everyone is a little relaxed right now because of the IPL.

Vipul Shah: “Unless you take a stand a crisis cannot be resolved .I think a message has been sent out loud and clear that we producers are united on the multiplex issue. This is the acid test for the UPDA.Unity is the essence. And we have it.

Goldie Behl: “That we producers have come together for once is in itself an achievement. A solution is inevitable because neither industry can survive without the other. The producers have an alternate means of exhibition. But the multiplexes have no choice.

Madhur Bhandarkar: “Unity among the producers was a clear achievement . The crisis has to end soon. The mutiplexes have to agree to the new profit- sharing formula."

Suneel Darshan: “The meeting on Tuesday achieved high TRPs for the channels, great visuals of Shahrukh and Aamir together, and nothing much else. Such serious issues are better discussed behind closed doors.

Bhooshan Kumar: “I leave it to a dependable spokesperson like Karan Johar to speak on the issue. But we all want this crisis to be resolved as soon as possible."